Yay they’ve made it worse for everyone!
Yup, it looks pretty crap indeed. Even the walkers in the pic don’t want to use it. That being so I can’t imagine this is the finished state – probably just a pause in the works being carried out before the final phase of hardening the surface.
Well I can’t speak for Cumbria CC – if they are behind the work, which is almost certainly the case. But like most authorities, the ROW dept will have a schedule of works to be carried out and will be able to explain if you give them a call. IIRC the track might actually be a byway rather than bridleway – and this legal status might be part of the reasoning. Work like this seems often to be done to what is termed “best practice” – based on ROW requirements and recommended specifications from groups like IMBA, ramblers and the BHS (horse society). Unfortunately ‘best practice’ often ends up with the most easily imported solution for the budget available – and even if understandable financially, predictably mediocre/ generic results.
I presume there’s some sort of planning meeting, can the members of the public hear about them, and attend, even influence, decisions?
Well, most county councils have systems of local access forums, ROW liaison groups etc. I believe Cumbria has 2 access forums – one for the National Park and one for the rest of the county. They are obliged to respond to the public, and I believe meetings are open to the public. Someone on these would surely be a useful port of call to find out more. As for influencing ROW decisions, well, I wouldn’t hold your breath – but it might help to work out what is going on in the first place.