Planners recommend zipline attraction for approval

Controversial plans to build a "zip wire" tourist attraction in a national park are one step closer to approval.

Proposals for the Elterwater Quarry Experience in the Lake District were refused in September, after nearly 90,000 objections and a revised plan was submitted in February.

Now a report prepared by the Lake District National Park Authority's (LDNPA) development control committee is recommending the zip wire's approval.

It said the attraction would further the "promotion of opportunities for understanding and enjoyment" of the national park's special qualities.

Visitors to the attraction would be able explore parts of a cavern using a zipline.

The site is currently a working quarry located south west of the village Elterwater, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

In its latest plans for the zipline, operator Zip World has included a travel plan that could see public transport options improved, or a shuttle bus service launched to cut down on cars travelling to the site.

The operator will also financially reward customers who have not used cars to travel through ticket pricing.

The LDNPA's development control committee will meet on 1 May to discuss the report.

Its report said: “It has been demonstrated that the site can accommodate visitors to it and that measures proposed to promote and increase travel to the site using more sustainable modes of transport are sufficiently robust and achievable.”

'Negative position'

More than 200 objections have been lodged against the plans, including one from charity Friends of the Lake District.

The charity said that even if the travel plan was realistic and successful, the proposals would “at best cause slightly less additional harm than they would otherwise”.

“It will not avoid additional harm and will still result in a negative position in terms of traffic, vehicle movements and parking compared to the current baseline,” it said.

Seven letters of support were also received, including a representation from Cumbria Amenity Trust Mining History Society who said the proposals were "likely to preserve" the historical perspective of the slate quarrying industry.