Zip wires that pose risk to jets scrapped in Lake District

PLANS to put up a series of zip wire rides across one of the most beautiful landscapes in Britain have been abandoned after protests from residents and environmental campaigners.

Treetop Trek had applied for planning permission for a £1.8 million activity hub with eight aerial lines up to 4,000ft long criss-crossing Thirlmere.

Charities including Friends of the Lake District and the Wainwright Society, along with Caroline Quentin, the actress and president of Campaign for National Parks, opposed the scheme, saying it would spoil the landscape.

At the same time the RAF warned that the zip wires, which would have been the highest and longest in England, could pose a danger to the fighter jets that use the area for training.

The Lake District National Park Authority received more than 2,300 responses to its consultation on the plans.

Despite Cumbria Tourism and the Lake District Park Partnership Business Task Force both backing the scheme, saying the project would boost tourism and the local economy, Treetop Trek yesterday announced the application has been withdrawn.

Mike Turner, its managing director, said: “We have this week withdrawn our planning application for the Thirlmere Activity Hub.”

Fiona Howie, the chief executive of Campaign for National Parks, said: “We are delighted.

“The proposal was totally inappropriate due to the impact it would have had on this beautiful part of the Lake District National Park.”