Plans for zipline in national park quarry approved

Plans for the zipline in Elterwater Quarry were approved on Wednesday

Controversial plans to build a “zip wire” tourist attraction in a national park have been approved.

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.

The new plans were approved by the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) on Wednesday.

The charity Friends of the Lake District said it was "disappointed" by the decision.

The modified plans by operator Zip World included a commitment to promoting local cycle routes and providing a minibus service via Brockhole and Ambleside, so fewer cars had to travel to the main site.

The plans also revealed the operator would financially reward customers who had not used cars through ticket pricing.

Zip World chief executive Andrew Hudson said he recognised the role the firm could play in "celebrating and preserving this unique part of Lake District's heritage".

"[We] look forward to working with local communities and stakeholders to demonstrate how we will operate this educational experience in a sensitive and sympathetic manner," he said.

'Unrealistic'

Several objections had been lodged against the latest plans, including one from the Friends of the Lake District.

The group said it was "unrealistic to expect people to park at Brockhole near Windermere and then take other forms of transport to reach the site".

"We remain opposed in principle to a major tourist attraction being established in a small community that is already under huge visitor pressure," a spokesperson said.

"The area already suffers from congestion and a demand for parking, and even a small increase in traffic will make the problems worse."

Working quarry

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

The site is currently a working quarry, located south west of the village Elterwater.

A report prepared by the LDNPA's development control committee said the zipline would further the "promotion of opportunities for understanding and enjoyment" of the national park's "special qualities".

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