Go Ape plans not popular with residents near Itchen Valley (From Daily Echo)

Go Ape plans not popular with residents near Itchen Valley

11:59am Friday 16th October 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(6)

HOPES for a playground in the tree tops are falling foul of local residents.

The plans by outdoor specialists Go Ape for a site at the Itchen Valley Country park have not gone down well with nearby households.

Already they have been changed once over a bridleway row, while a high-profile protest by residents has landed them in hot water with the council.

And all this before a planning application has even been submitted.

Despite the controversy those behind the plans are pressing ahead with the move. The company already has an adventure course at Moors Valley Country Park near Ringwood where visitors scale rope ladders, take a Tarzan leap into cargo nets and zoom down zip lines.

With five different sections and 1,000m of crossings, the course is full of physical and mental challenges.

Situated high above the tree canopies, the course takes up little ground space in the park with families and dog walkers able to watch those climbing across rope bridges and tackling cargo nets.

However, it is the increase in visitor numbers to the park that is causing concern among residents who say it would disrupt the tranquil atmosphere.

Chris Swain, manager at Go Ape at Moors Valley Country Park, has hit back saying the treetop assault courses benefits everyone in the community.

Chris said: “A lot of the time people will go for walks in the park either before or after they use our site and it’s about getting people out of their homes and enjoying the countryside.

“Go Ape at Moors Valley, has meant more people using the site.

“The spin-off from that for the Forestry Commission is the shops, because it means extra income for them which can then be put into conservation.”

Mr Swain dismissed the fears of major noise nuisance and added: “If you are nearby you can hear some of the zip lines but that noise certainly doesn’t travel through the forest.

“The most noise you hear is from people enjoying themselves.

I don’t think too many people object to that.”

Experience of Go Ape!

CLAD head to toe in fake fur, dressed as a gorilla, I felt like I was living every youngster’s dream.

Taking a giant leap from a 10m high platform into a cargo net was more than a little daunting but never the less, with ape fur ready to cushion the fall – I jumped.

Feeling a Tarzan style cry was appropriate, I roared out into the unknown – only to misjudge the initial drop and end up sounding more Mr Muscle than Mr T.

Next up was a long footbridge made of very narrow wooden slats. This proved to be more than a slight problem considering the very minor eyeholes my gorilla suit afforded me.

Despite the difficulty, I ploughed on to the Krypton Factor-style zip line.

Feeling like King Kong I flew off, only to realise that the line could spin round of its own accord, I quickly ended up hurtling backward toward the fast approaching wood chip. Thankfully, I was saved by the instructor’s safety briefing before we took off.

Despite the limited vision, the narrow rope bridges and the stifling heat of my costume, Go Ape was a refreshingly different day out which made Moors Valley more Jungle Book than a standard Sunday jaunt.