Underground zip wire plan for Lake District approved by judge | Lake District

Plans to create an underground zipline experience at a 19th-century Lake District slate quarry have been approved by a high court judge.

On Wednesday, Mr Justice Mold handed down a ruling that could put an end to a long-running battle that has sparked debate over how people can and should experience national parks.

The Elterwater slate quarry plan is tantamount to creating a “theme park” that threatens the tranquility of the area, an international heritage charity has said.

But supporters said the attraction would be underground and out of sight. They also argued it was a way to welcome a larger, more diverse group of visitors to the Lake District.

The Elterwater zip wire plan was rejected in 2023 but was approved by planners in May 2024. campaign group Friends of the Lake District He then sought a judicial review, which led to a two-day hearing in April this year.

The group argued that planners misunderstood their responsibilities, but in its decision judge backs planning officers and rejected the arguments made against the ratification.

Friends of the Lake District CEO Michael Hill said they were considering the consequences of the decision and whether to appeal. He said: “We’re disappointed, but we’re energized by the fact that we’ve managed to make a point about what we stand for.”

Hill added that the charity had no objection to people coming to learn about the industrial history of the quarry, “but we believe the way the attraction is structured with zip wires will trivialize the experience. It will not honor the memory of the quarry workers and miners who worked there. It will just be an adrenaline experience.”

Those objecting to the plan include: International Council on Monuments and Sites (Icomos), the advisory body of the international heritage organization Unesco.

Icomos said the plans jeopardized the “calm and contemplative” nature of the area and described the attraction as “of the kind that would turn the quarry, or part of it, into a theme park and trivialize the experience of an important aspect of the Lake District’s heritage”.

It was stated that the envisaged use of the caves was “adventure tourism” rather than “interpretation of cultural heritage”.

Hill said the risks were high and he feared the Lake District could lose its Unesco world heritage status. “Unesco stripped the docks in Liverpool of their world heritage status a few years ago, and they’ve done that for other parts of the world as well,” he said. “And they might do that here, too, if we continue to ignore their advice about its uniqueness.”

The zipline installation was carried out by the quarry’s owners, Burlington Stone, in partnership with Zip World, which operates several zipline experiences in England and Wales.

One of these is Zip World at Penrhyn Quarry in Snowdonia, Wales, home to Velocity 2, the world’s fastest zipline.

The Elterwater quarry has been worked since the mid-19th century and Burlington Stone has permission to continue quarrying until at least 2042. It plans to operate the attraction in addition to its mining business.

Applicants had previously abandoned plans to add a “cave toboggan” element to the experience.

Steve Ratcliffe, director of sustainable development at the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA), said: “We are delighted with the outcome and respect the right of any person or organization to challenge decisions made by the LDNPA through judicial review, but are disappointed that the application reached the high court without pre-action protocols or notice, resulting in significant costs for both the authority and Friends of the Lake District.” “We stopped by.”

Burlington Stone and Zip World have been approached for comment.