Derby's Markeaton Park high ropes to be dismantled

The attraction was built in 2015, but has been closed for most of its life

A high ropes attraction at Markeaton Park in Derby is to be removed after Derby City Council deemed it "no longer viable".

The "Skyline" course has been closed to the public since 2019 and did not reopen after the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Labour-led council said it had not been able to find a suitable operator to reopen the attraction.

And the council's opposing Conservative group said it was disappointing, but the facility had fallen into disrepair.

'Very disappointed'

The 30ft (9m) structure was built in 2015 as part of a £3.4m scheme to improve facilities at the park.

It closed two years later due to vandalism, but reopened for one season operated by Derbyshire County Council as part of an initiative with the city council.

Councillor Hardyal Dhindsa, the cabinet member for communities, said the cost of keeping the site safe was not sustainable.

He said: "We are very disappointed that we have not been able to reopen the Skyline high ropes course at Markeaton Park following the Covid pandemic.

"This has been due to a number of factors, including difficulties identifying a suitable operator combined with the cost of repairs that would be required.

"We have made every effort to find a way to bring the facility back into use but, following detailed consideration, we have concluded that the best way forward is to remove it from the park."

The Conservatives said they were disappointed in the council's decision

Councillor Kieran Morgan-McGeehan, who represents the local Allestree ward, said he was disappointed the council had been unable to find someone to operate it.

He said: "It's sad to see the state that it is in. What should be full of happy laughter and happy faces is just desolate and just swinging in the wind.

"As an ongoing commercial concern, without specialist knowledge to maintain it, I understand why you wouldn't express an interest. It's a liability in the state that it is in."

The council said it was exploring options for alternative facilities to replace the course but was yet to set a date for when it would be removed from the park.