Lake District zip wire plans scrapped after outcry

Lake District

Campaigners fighting controversial plans to set up the highest and longest zip wire rides in England across Thirlmere reservoir in the Lake District are celebrating victory after the company behind the move ditched the idea.

Treetop Trek had applied for planning permission for a £1.8m activity hub with lines 1,200 metres in length crossing the lake.

It sparked a chorus of protest from organisations including Friends of the Lake District, the Wainwright Society, and the actress and president of the Campaign for National Parks Caroline Quentin.

The RAF also said there was a risk the zip wires posed a risk to low flying fighter jets which use the area for training.

The company has now withdrawn the application despite support from Cumbria Tourism and the Lake District Park Partnership Business Task Force.

Campaign for National Parks chief executive Fiona Howie said: “We are delighted that the planning application has been withdrawn. The proposal was totally inappropriate due to the impact it would have had on this beautiful and tranquil part of the Lake District National Park.”

Mike Turner, managing director of Treetop Trek Ltd, said: “We have this week withdrawn our planning application for the Thirlmere Activity Hub with immediate effect.

“We made it clear from the beginning of this process that we would not propose a scheme that was not supported by the MOD. To date we have received two contradictory communications with the MOD; one supporting the scheme and the other opposing the scheme.

“The MOD’s internal investigation into Thirlmere and into what they would be happy with at Thirlmere is ongoing and unlikely to be resolved within the next eight weeks, so on that basis we are withdrawing the application.

“We would like to sincerely thank all those who have supported us during this process. Their positivity has been hugely appreciated.”

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