Protest planned over Eden Valley luge ride

Plans for a luge ride in rural Cumbria have caused controversy

Campaigners are to hold a protest rally against a proposed luge attraction in Cumbria.

The scheme, including an 850m (280ft) concrete track, chairlifts, cafe and car park at Blaze Fell, near Armathwaite in the Eden Valley, has been described as “an act of rural vandalism”.

Protesters claim it will attract more than 500 cars a day, clogging minor rural roads and significantly increasing noise and air pollution.

However, the developers said the proposed attraction would bring economic gains without negatively impacting the environment, citing carbon neutrality and the introduction of 2,000 trees to be habitats for wildlife.

'Wrong place'

The luge, billed as the first of its kind in Europe, went before Eden District Council in 2021 and is now being considered by Westmorland and Furness Council.

An online petition against the plan has attracted more than 1,500 signatures and on Saturday about 100 people are expected to gather at the fell to voice their objections.

Armathwaite resident David Ryland is leading the protest against the proposed luge ride at Blaze Fell

Armathwaite resident and parish councillor David Ryland said: “Nobody objects to the idea in the principle, but it’s just in the wrong place.

“The hundreds of tonnes of concrete that will be used on the site will generate significant carbon emissions and because the public transport links are inadequate the roads are going to be swamped with cars.

“In an area of great natural beauty and tranquillity, this is nothing more than rural vandalism.”

'Farm tourism'

The plans have been put forward by Charles Lowther, a Cumbrian hotelier and landowner, and Daniel Holder, owner of an award-winning eco holiday park.

They insist traffic will not increase significantly in Armathwaite and surrounding villages, saying most visitors will arrive via the A6 and shuttlebuses.

“We understand that with any new proposal, especially one that brings a new idea, there will be intense local scrutiny,” said Mr Holder.

“But the luge track will sit unobtrusively within an established managed woodland on the northern side of Blaze Fell.

"Objectors say this attraction is 'rural vandalism' but we honestly believe it is a farm tourism enterprise that will revitalise this historically commercially quarried area.”

The council is due to consider the plans in the next few weeks.