Greenside and Glenridding, one possible site for a planned zipwire

Residents in a Lake District village say they are concerned at plans for a mile-long zipwire in the shadow of England’s third highest mountain.

The company behind the scheme, Treetop Trek, said the location at Glenridding is only one of several possible sites they are considering for the tourist attraction.

Residents attending a public meeting called by Patterdale Parish Council heard the zipwire, which would allow participants to slide at speed towards Glenridding, could stretch from the area near Greenside hostel to the village’s car park.

Dave McGowan, the Lake District National Park Authority’s head of development management, said he attended the 29 September meeting at the request of the parish council.

Mike Turner of Treetop Trek was also at the meeting, he said, and outlined his initial thoughts for a zipwire attraction. He was questioned by those attending.

Mr McGowan said: “The council had requested that I attend to answer any planning questions that might arise from the audience and I was pleased to do so.

“The Lake District National Park Authority is the local planning authority for the area and a zipwire proposal of this type would require an application for planning permission to be made.

“At present we have not received an application and if we do we will carry out consultation and publicity in the usual manner.

“We have provided some initial planning advice on the policy and planning considerations that would need to be addressed.”

Treetop Trek currently operates a high ropes and climbing net course, culminating in three parallel 250m zipwires, in woodland at the national park authority’s Brockholes centre.

Although there was strong opposition from many at the meeting, others spoke in favour of the plan, saying it would increase tourism numbers to the area.

Proposals for a 1.2km zipwire at Honister, between Borrowdale and Buttermere, were turned down by Lake District planners last year. The plans, originally conceived by late slate-mine owner Mark Weir, were opposed by the Friends of the Lake District, whose vice-president Sir Chris Bonington, who supported the application, resigned from the charity.

Planning committee members refused the application on the grounds of its impact on the landscape. The vote was split seven to four.

Greenside, a former lead-mining area 2km (1¼ miles) west of Glenridding, is home to YHA’s Helvellyn hostel and an outdoor pursuits centre. It lies on a popular route for walkers from Ullswater to Helvellyn and for skiers visiting the Lake District Ski Club’s slopes on Raise.