Honister Zipwire Rejected - Again

© ericoides

A proposal to build a zip wire on Fleetwith Pike has been turned down today by planners in the Lake District.

Fleetwith Pike, Cumbria  © ericoides
Fleetwith Pike, Cumbria
© ericoides, Apr 2006

This was the second rejection for the controversial plan by the Honister Slate Mine tourist attraction, which has divided local opinion since it was first conceived by Honister's late owner Mark Weir. The original proposal, which would have seen the construction of a 1200m zipwire running from near Fleetwith Pike's summit to the Honister car park, was given the thumbs down in 2011 (reported here on UKH). Honister Slate Mine's revised proposal for a slightly shorter wire has now been refused too.

Having heard representations from various parties both for and against, including a statement in support from Sir Chris Bonington, members of the Lake District National Park Authority's development control committee today voted by seven votes to four to reject the application, on the grounds that the development would have a serious impact on the character of the Lake District Landscape.

Conservation organisation Friends of the Lake District, who campaigned against the proposal, have welcomed the news as 'the best decision for the Lake District's wider tourism economy now and in the longer-term.'

'The decision reaffirms the previous refusal' they go on, 'recognising that recreational activities reliant on man-made infrastructure and harmful to the landscape should not be allowed in sensitive locations.'

'Zip wires and GoApe tree assault courses are best located in forest settings as they are in other parts of the UK.'

In the aftermath of the decision supporters of the proposal have expressed shock and sadness, Honister's owner has suggested it may have to close, and it has been reported that Sir Chris Bonington has resigned from his post as vice-president of Friends of the Lake District.

Is the end of the (zip)line for the scheme?


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9 Jan, 2013
I'd love to know why Bonners is supporting the zipwire when he blasted me for bolting a couple of rock routes in |Tafraoute Valley in Morocco, duplicitous Sir Chris?
10 Jan, 2013
It would be interesting to hear Sir Chris's opinion on the zip-wire proposal. There is a lot going on in the Lakes at the moment, what with the nuclear waste disposal plans in Ennerdale. I can also hear the cries of hypocrisy from the supporters of the Honister Zipwire as the Lake District National Park increases their own commercial activity at the National Park Centre at Brockhole: Hoteliers lash 'unfair' competition as Brockhole masterplan is unveiled See: http://tinyurl.com/bfh92k9 START Plans include: * an indoor venue for weddings and other functions for up to 500; * an ‘outdoor event’ space for up to 5,000; * a watersports centre complete with a new lake and building for staff and equipment; * a hostel for visitors; and * a lakeside education classroom. Mr Denby, who runs South Lakes Hotels, said it was not the job of the LDNPA to run commercial activities in competition with local businesses and called for the authority to consider selling off Brockhole. “It is being subsidised to the tune of £300,000 a year and more public money is being pumped in to pay for the redevelopment. It puts the centre at an unfair advantage.” Thomas Noblett, who runs the Langdale Chase Hotel, claimed a wedding venue at Brockhole would end up ‘looting the business’ from other hotels. ENDS Mick
10 Jan, 2013
Typical National Park Authority , bugger local jobs and business's but at the same time line their own pockets .
12 Jan, 2013
Just for your info: The National Park Authority Planning Officers actually recommended the proposal go ahead (which, incidentally, I don't agree with). The authority members voted against it in no small measure because (although you wouldn't guess it from the media coverage) there is a considerable amount of opposition to it from locals (both Borrowdale and Buttermere Parish Councils are against), not just conservation groups. Given that the Government are on record as supporting the principle of local decision making when it comes to planning issues, you could argue the Authority Members are merely reflecting the democratic wishes of the folk most likely to be directly affected by the development. The only people benefiting financially remain the Honister operation who are making considerable amounts of money already without the need for further contentious attractions (£39.50 per head to be 'guided' along CROW access land, up to 10 in a group, often half a dozen parties through in a day, all year round operation...)
17 Jan, 2013
Good news. It's hard to imagine a more inappropriate proposal for this area. Bonners seems to have lost his marbles.
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