Honister zipwire rejected

Controversial plans to build a zipwire near the Honister Slatemine in the Lake District have been rejected.

Honister Slate Mine appeal against decision to reject zip wire plan

Honister Slate Mine are going to appeal against the decision to reject plans for a zip wire.

A planning committee at the Lake District National Park Authority threw out the proposals at a meeting yesterday (Wednesday 9th January).

The Mine which is already a tourist attraction and has a via ferrata climbing wall, wants to build a half mile long zip wire in two parts running from Honister Crags to the car park.

Planners at a meeting in Kendal rejected the plans over concerns about its impact on the landscape.

Reaction to Honister Zipwire rejection

Plans for a huge zipwire at Honister in the Lake District were rejected yesterday (9th January).

Proposals for the half mile long zipwire at Honister Slate Mine were thrown out by the Lake District National Park Authority.

The decision led Sir Chris Bonington to quit his role as Vice-President of the organisation of Friends of the Lake District.

ITV Border viewers have been giving their reactions to the decision on Twitter:

"Appalled at decision & even more at @FriendsofLakes telling @ChrisBonington to 'go away & calm down' on @ITVBorder"

– @monchengladbach

"Good job the LDNPA wasn't around when the mine was opened or Cumbria would never have had any jobs!"

– @jboyd1978

Who on earth would want to wreck the fells with a great zip wire anyway? Correct decision!"

– @Hill_Runner

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Full Report: Lake District zipwire plans

Plans for a huge zip wire in the Lake District have been rejected.

Proposals for a half mile long zip wire at Honister Slate Mine were thrown out by the Lake District National Park Authority.

The decision led Sir Chris Bonington to quit his role as Vice-President of the organisation of Friends of the Lake District.

You can watch the full report on the decision - and the fallout - from Hannah McNulty below.

Honister Zipwire plans rejected

Plans to build a huge Zipwire in the Lake District have been rejected.

The owners of Honister Slate Mine wanted to build a 1035m long zip wire but the Lake District National Park Authority Development Committee turned down the plans at a meeting in Kendal, by seven to four votes against it.

The revised plans were for a shorter zip wire than the mile long structure that was turned down in September 2011.

Sir Chris Bonington supports Zipwire application

Expert mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington is in favour of the Honister Zipwire application.

He said:

"I wouldn't go down the zip wire for all the tea in China because I'd be frightened, but the last thing I want to do is stop others from doing it."

– Sir Chris Bonington

He's now asking the Committee at the LDNPA to approve the development.

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Views in favour of Honister Zipwire heard

People in favour of Zipwire application are now having their say at the meeting.

First up is Jan Wilkinson, one of the Directors of Honister Slate Mine and partner of Mark Weir.

He was the owner of the Mine and it was his idea to build the Zipwire.

He died in a helicopter crash in March 2011.

She told the Committee:

"Tourism (in the Lake District) needs to up its game and give it a stronger international profile. We need adventure."

– Jan Wilkinson, Director, Honister Slate Mine

Mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington who has lived in the Lakes for 45 years told the Committee:

"I do hope you will allow this exciting and innovative experience to happen."

– Sir Chris Bonington

Views against Honister Zipwire heard

Campaigners against the introduction of the Honister Zipwire have been expressing their views at the meeting:

"There are other sites in the National Park which can host a zip wire. This is the wrong location."

– Jack Ellerby, Friend of the Lake District

"Many people set off to Wainwright's Haystacks from Honister...in the future they may have to dodge screaming bodies."

– John Bennett, Borrowdale and Buttermere Parish Councils

Honister Zipwire meeting underway

A meeting to decide whether to approve plans for a huge zipwire in the Lake District is getting underway.

The owners of Honister Slate Mine want to build a 1035m long zip wire in two lengths starting from Honister Crags and landing in the Mine car park.

If approval is given, it would be for an 18 month period while an independent study is carried out into the impact it is having on the surrounding landscape.

The Development Control Committee at the Lake District National Park Authroity in Kendal could also reject the application or defer it until they have more information.

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