A Go Ape planning application for a replacement Tree Top Challenge high ropes course, featuring two lengthy zip wires in Whinlatter Forest, is likely to prove controversial.
The zip wires, measuring 972 and 816 metres, will pass over the B5292 Whinlatter Pass road while the high ropes course will comprise stations on and crossings between trees as well as access points, platforms, braking systems and landing areas.
Already opposition is mounting against the proposal with one early objector, Mike Cave from Thornthwaite, saying in a letter to The Keswick Reminder that if granted people could “say goodbye to quiet walks around the forest!”
And he warns that a serious increase in congestion at the Braithwaite narrows can be expected if the application is approved.
He says that the noise assessment among the “mass of supporting documents” only considered the impact on the Cottage in the Wood, 240 metres away from the zip wires.
“Not surprisingly it found no significant impact,” he writes. “But it didn’t consider the noise impact on cyclists passing under the zip wires nor people walking in Whinlatter.
“Cyclists would be about 50 metres below someone travelling at up to 70mph on the zip wire. The noise would increase by over 20 decibels or over 100 times.
“The landing point for the northbound zip wires are close to the visitor centre and could be 30 decibels.”
And he says that the traffic assessment seeks to prove that there will be minimal increase in vehicles through the Braithwaite narrows. The assessment has a claimed increase of 15 vehicle movements an hour at peak times or one every eight minutes.
“Ignoring the poor maths, the calculation has some serious flaws,” he said. “It assumes that all the occupants of the vehicle will participate in the zip wire experience.
“It would be more reasonable to expect that some more mature visitors will prefer the quieter experiences of the Whinlatter Forest. Assuming 50 per cent participation would double the number of vehicles.
“Their calculation also assumes that one third of the vehicles would come from the Lorton direction. While this might be true of general traffic on the pass road, most visitors to the zip wire will be visitors to the Lake District National Park and drive through Braithwaite.
“These two adjustments increase the vehicle movements to 40 not 15, and the frequency to 90 seconds not the claimed eight minutes.
Go Ape, a tenant of Forestry England at Whinlatter Forest, says that the impact of the tree disease Phytophthora ramorum on its existing Treetop Challenge course provided an opportunity to create “an exciting new course” within the forest as a replacement.
It says that it is continuing to develop its activity offerings in the Lake District, supporting the sustained success of Whinlatter Forest and a prosperous post-Covid19 visitor economy.
“Reports produced show that Whinlatter Forest is a desirable location for these recreational developments,” it says. “The proposals will create new jobs and support the wider visitor economy through attracting younger audiences.
Go Ape says that the main benefit the expanded activities will provide is employment. It currently employs one full-time person and 18 part-time employees with salary costs of £165,000. But it is forecast that the new experience would increase the number of full-time staff to two with 44 part-time employees costing £330,000 in salaries.
An economic statement adds that visitors to Go Ape would help support other businesses at Whinlatter including Forestry England through car parking charges (this could be £160,000 per annum), Cafe Ambio with increased food and drink sales and Cyclewise bike hire and retail.
The report adds that the lack of a rope course at Whinlatter between February and August 2022, Forestry England saw a 32 per cent drop in visitor numbers than in 2019.
“A Go Ape presence at Whinlatter has a large impact on business sustainability and the dynamic of the site,” says the statement. “There would also be the other benefits for visitors that utilise local accommodation, retail and services.”
Anyone wanting to comment on the zipwire application, email [email protected] quoting 7/2023/2048.
