Plans to turn a Lake District quarry into a tourist attraction are expected to be put forward within days.
Burlington Stone wants to transform its Elterwater Quarry site into a heritage centre – complete with a rollercoaster-type ride and high ropes course.
It has partnered with adventure company Zip World on the scheme.
However, the plans have attracted a huge amount of criticism and protest group Zip Off Langdale created an online petition against it – which has so far been signed by 32, 254 people.
No planning application has been submitted, but Zip Off Langdale said it believed it was expected ‘in days’.
Burlington Stone said it wanted to create a recreation-based attraction, which would provide “an immersive learning experience”.
It added: “Our proposals currently include Quarry Explorer high ropes courses for adults and children and a cavern toboggan. This is an environmentally friendly toboggan-style ride on a track, which will take passengers through forested areas and reclaimed quarry land, culminating in an exciting underground section through the spectacular caverns.”
Theme park fears
But the protestors, who also successfully campaigned against plans for a zipwire attraction around Thirlmere reservoir in 2017, fear it will turn the Lake District into a theme park.
Now, a leading conservation charity has joined calls for the Elterwater scheme to be stopped.
Friends of the Lake District is urging people to write to their local councillors, MPs and the planning authority to obejct.
It said: “Plans for the redevelopment of a quarry at Elterwater in the Langdale Valley – at the heart of the Lake District – have reignited public fears of the national park turning into a theme park.”
Lorayne Wall, the charity’s planning officer, said: “The strength of feeling shown directly to us by our members, and in the petition, makes clear that fears have been reignited about the risk of the national park being turned into a theme park.
“We have previously highlighted this risk and have challenged previous inappropriate proposals.
“Many of our members and supporters have been in touch with us directly and, without exception, they are against this proposal and share the concern that this proposal shows the risk remains very real.
“We must therefore act again to ensure the Lake District is treated in line with the Sandford Principle, which requires that when there is conflict between conservation and public enjoyment in national parks, then conservation should take priority.”
Traffic chaos
Objectors are concerned that an attraction would result in traffic chaos – and are against Burlington Stone’s plans to create a 200-space car park.
Friends of the Lake District said: “Elterwater is popular as a location to visit in its own right and as a starting point for walks, so the village itself and the narrow, winding local lanes approaching the quarry site already suffer the impacts of high levels of traffic and parking problems.”
Ms Wall added: “While removing the currently relatively low levels of quarry traffic from the roads, this proposal would see a huge rise in private cars and potentially coaches passing through the village to access the site.
“Local businesses in the valley already have to bring in staff from distant towns due to a lack of a local workforce, so this would add further to the traffic generated by the development.
“Although the Elterwater site itself is a brownfield site – a former quarry – we are also concerned about the impact on the landscape character and tranquillity of the area as a result of traffic increases and the nature and level of the activity, not to mention the impact on views from the surrounding fells.
“While the quarry is clearly visible from surrounding fells, if this proposal goes ahead, what will be seen would be very different, including a large car park.
“The site is adjacent a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a County Wildlife Site and ancient woodland, so we are also concerned about impacts on biodiversity and the loss of opportunities to enhance it.”
The charity added that planning consent given for Elterwater quarry as recently as 2021 were subject to a restoration condition, meaning that the operator is obligated to carry out a restoration scheme to enhance the local landscape and wildlife habitats once quarrying at the site has ceased.
Burlington Stone said: “We will create a sensible flow of visitors. We are also proposing a new car park at the quarry to safely allow visitors to access the site without putting any strain on existing parking provision in the area. It is hoped this facility might also provide relief to existing problems in and round Elterwater village. In addition, there will be facilities for electric car charging as well as areas for bicycle storage.
“As a business already operating in the Lake District National Park we are aware of the long-standing traffic problems that exist, especially during peak visitor periods. We have started early discussions with key stakeholders to help us to develop a strategy for sustainable transport. Ceasing quarry operations will, in itself, remove vehicles – especially LGVs – from the local road network.”
Burlington Stone said the development would boost the local economy and pledged to use local suppliers where possible during construction and the site’s operation.
It said Zip World’s existing attractions in North Wales had added over £251 million to the local economy between 2016 and 2018.
