A proposal for a 1200 metre zip wire attraction in a wild and remote Lake District valley will go to the Lake District National Park Authority's planning committee next month.
The proposal will go to the park authority's development control committee on Wednesday 1 September at 10am, not the August meeting, as previously described.
The development would involve the installation of a 1200 metre zip wire, which would run from the top of Fleetwith Pike, a mile back down to the Honister Slate Mine Visitor Centre near Keswick.
A zip wire or aerial ropeslide, consists of a pulley suspended on a cable mounted on an incline. It is designed to enable a user propelled by gravity to traverse from the top to the bottom of a slope, usually made of stainless steel, by holding on or attaching to the freely moving pulley. Zip wire tours are often found at outdoor adventure camps where they may be an element of a larger challenge or ropes course.
Landscape conservation charity Friends of the Lake District has submitted strong objections to the proposed Zip Wire and urges concerned members of the public to add their voices to the objections.
Friends of the Lake District Planning Officer Richard Pearse said: ‘We have significant concerns over the impact of the wire, and the type and level of activity it would bring. This area of the National Park is internationally recognised for its outstanding landscape and tranquility. Even though many people already visit the Honister area the fells feel quite wild and remote. They are enjoyed by thousands of visitors who come to appreciate just this wildness and remoteness. The zip wire would fundamentally change the area, passing very close to walkers using the popular Wainwright route to Haystacks.'
In addition to the impact on the fells of the wire itself, Friends of the Lake District are also concerned about additional traffic being generated into this remote valley, where there is very limited public transport.
Richard Pearse continued: ‘This is just the wrong place for a new visitor attraction that would be aiming to attract large numbers of people.
‘The National Park exists to protect the fells from development so that people can enjoy their amazing landscapes. We are concerned not only about the impact of the development itself if it were approved, but also the precedent this would set for future development in the area.‘
The application is set to go the planning committee at the Lake District National Park on Wednesday 1 September, at 10am.
So there's still plenty of time to write to planning officer if you share our concerns about this. Please quote planning reference number 7/2010/2092:
Kevin Richards
Planning Services
Lake District National Park Authority
Murley Moss
Oxenholme Road
Kendal
Cumbria LA9 7RL
Email: planning@lakedistrict.gov.uk
Kevin Richards
Planning Services
Lake District National Park Authority
Murley Moss
Oxenholme Road
Kendal
Cumbria LA9 7RL
Email: planning@lakedistrict.gov.uk
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