Conservationists lose a little more support

[simonbeck8848]

Sir Christian Bonnington has apparently resigned over some proposed recreational facility in or close to Honister Pass. I dont remember the Honister being unspoilt virgin wilderness?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jan/0 ... ct-zipwire

[ianandmonika]

He agreed with the proposal for a zip line, but most of Friends of Lake District didn't want it. Zip line doesn't seem to be problem at Honister to me.

[Glucosamine]

The original proposal was the subject of a BBC(?) TV programme. The promoter was the same guy who made what was widely regarded in the MM / FR community as inappropriate publicity out of the wet KIMM. There appeared to be middle ground for compromise - but neither side would do so. Positions perhaps rather entrenched now ...

How many O-forests share the trees with Go-Ape courses?

[roadrunner]

How many O-forests share the trees with Go-Ape courses?

Star Posts for one.

[Wayward-O]

How many O-forests share the trees with Go-Ape courses?

Both Whinlatter and Grizedale.

BTW as a Cumbrian resident, I've been against the zip wire at the slate mine, not because of what it is but because it would increase the traffic using the Honister pass.

[Happy]

How many O-forests share the trees with Go-Ape courses?

Alice Holt.

[MIE]

How many O-forests share the trees with Go-Ape courses?

Bedgebury (Kent)
Wendover
Black Park (Slough)
Trent Park, North London (just off the edge of the map in the OOB area)

There are 28 in all and most seem to be in. or very close to, areas that have
been used for O

[Red Adder]

Highlodge Warren (Thetford) - though as the FC charge up to £10 per car for parking as well as normal access fees there is quite a disincentive to use that part of the forest at present.

[simonbeck8848]

There is a ropes course at Margam country park, looks like go Ape I would guess. Sadly the maze (carefully drawn on the PG plot by Patrick Blashill) was removed a while ago!

I would like to add that I agree in principle with the point about the traffic being increased but it seems to me that you could argue against the majority of developments on the grounds of traffic increase

[Wayward-O]

There I would like to add that I agree in principle with the point about the traffic being increased but it seems to me that you could argue against the majority of developments on the grounds of traffic increase

You obviously don't know the Honister pass.

[plain lazy]

How many O-forests share the trees with Go-Ape courses?

South Achray in the Trossachs, and Crathes in Deeside both share their forests with Go-Ape. Can't say for Sth Achray but there's hardly any difference in the traffic at Crathes (IMO) since they opened the Go-Ape facility, though at £30 a shot I'm not surprised folk are not flocking to it!

[charles2]

The original proposal was the subject of a BBC(?) TV programme. .... There appeared to be middle ground for compromise - but neither side would do so. Positions perhaps rather entrenched now ...

It was on the 'Tales from the National Parks' series on BBC. The zipwire proposal had been scaled down, but Friends of the Lake District and other groups weren't prepared to even consider such a thing, preferring to keep the Lake District as a 'museum' rather than a living and vibrant place where people live and work and make a living. Mark Weir, whose idea it was, rescued the Honister Slate mine regenerating local traditional industry which now could be at threat without the income from the zip wire and via ferrata (which was closed down as it was set up without planning permission).
It was a pity that despite being recommended and having the support of a local resident such as Sir Chris that the proposal was thrown out again.

[gaw]

The original proposal was the subject of a BBC(?) TV programme. .... There appeared to be middle ground for compromise - but neither side would do so. Positions perhaps rather entrenched now ...

It was on the 'Tales from the National Parks' series on BBC. The zipwire proposal had been scaled down, but Friends of the Lake District and other groups weren't prepared to even consider such a thing, preferring to keep the Lake District as a 'museum' rather than a living and vibrant place where people live and work and make a living. Mark Weir, whose idea it was, rescued the Honister Slate mine regenerating local traditional industry which now could be at threat without the income from the zip wire and via ferrata (which was closed down as it was set up without planning permission).
It was a pity that despite being recommended and having the support of a local resident such as Sir Chris that the proposal was thrown out again.

Just to correct some of the above - an extension to the via ferrata had been added without planning permission and was subsequently refused planning permission on the grounds that it damaged a SSSI. The main via ferrata remains open.
Not only Friends of the Lake District opposed this but a large part of the local population, including many who would count themselves as outdoor activity enthusiasts.
Mark Weir did make a lot of enemies amongst the fell running community, including local orienteers, through his actions to do with the rained off OMM which also worked against him when it came to the zip wire application - I know a number of these people opposed it.
I am also led to beleive that the economics behind the zip wire did not stack up to make it viable as it would not take the number of people needed because of restrictions in its use only to those who would have ascended the via ferrata.
The Lake District can be a living and vibrant place where people live and work and make a living without a zip wire at Honister. I can also imagine far better locations for a zip wire both in terms of impact on other people and the impact of the experience.

[gaw]

I should also add of course that it was not the Friends of the Lake District, individuals who opposed, or any other such party that refused planning permission for the zip wire, but the Members of the LDNP who made the decision on the balance of hearing both for and against and considering reports from the LDNPs planning department.

[mykind]

I must say that even as a lad 50+years ago Honister was not exactly wilderness. In fact on working days Gaitscarth Gill ran milky green with the dust washed off the slate saws.My grandfather who worked at the quarries from about 1920 onwards told tales about the "Aerial Flight" ( a kind of primitive Ski-lift) used to bring slate down from the quarries to Honister Hause and about its totally unauthorised use by quarrymen to get up and down from the quarries. So there isn't much that is new about a Zip wire which would occupy almost exactly the same route as the old "Flight".
I'm with Sir Chris on this one. The LDNPA has too much power and too many members who do not live in or work in the park.
And the traffic issue will be the same one which was used to object to the creation of the Mountain Bike trails in Whinlatter. That was given the go ahead and I've yet to see gridlock up there and we would not see it on Honister. (Yes I do Know it - I was born about two miles away)