Move to refuse zip wire plan

Councillors have been asked to refuse plans for a 650 metre long zip wire attraction in Scarborough for a second time.

An amended proposal for a 35m high zip line experience in Scarborough’s North Bay could be refused at a meeting today (Thursday, April 11) after the scheme was delayed in February.

Councillors have been asked to refuse Big Bang Promotions’ (BBP) plan for the second time in two months over concerns about “significant harm to the appearance of the area”.

As part of the changes, BBP is now seeking temporary planning permission for five years, and would leave out most of the cladding from the launch tower, keeping “only what is required for security at ground level”.

Councillor son the Scarboroughand W hit by area planning committee described the attraction as “desperately needed” but said that changes were required to make it acceptable.

More than 170 locals wrote letters in support of the plan and more than 40 letters of objection were received.

James Field, owner of BBP, also emphasised the economic benefits of the zip line which he said would be “one of the largest and longest” in the UK and could “reposition Scarborough as a forwardthinking destination” as well as creating dozens of jobs.

However, the local planning authority has told councillors that there are “no public benefits – including the tourism benefits of the scheme – which outweigh the identified harm” that would be caused by the scheme’s approval.

A planning report states: “Albeit reduced by the temporary nature of the amended proposal, harm would arise even if for a five-year period.”