IT is one of the most controversial leisure proposals in Hampshire.

Now the battle over plans for a high wire assault course in a country park will be decided by planners.

Following weeks of talks, adventure specialists Go Ape have finally submitted plans for a new leisure facility at Itchen Valley Country Park.

Despite opposition from residents, the company says it submitted the plans to Eastleigh Borough Council after weeks of public consultation.

The Daily Echo reported in June this year that Go Ape were in talks with the authority about a proposed site near West End.

But campaigner Margaret Raff, from the Friends of Itchen Valley Country Park, said she was determined to fight the plans. She said: “We know there’s a lot of people out there that are against it.

“This is not a NIMBY [Not In My Back Yard] issue, it’s about the future of a public park owned by all the people of Eastleigh.”

The application will now undergo more public consultation until November 19, before it is put before councillors at the local area committee, likely to be on December 7.

Go Ape confirmed that they had now submitted an application.

A spokesman for the company said: “We confirm that following public consultation, we have submitted a planning application for a design for a Go Ape course at Itchen Valley Country Park where we hope to provide a great recreational activity up in the trees.

“Over the last few months we have sought the views of park users about our plans.

“We have been pleased to receive several hundred responses, the clear majority of which have been in favour.”

What happens next . . ?

THE planning application received by Eastleigh Borough Council will now follow through the planning process.

Development control officers will work with other units, external organisations and residents before reporting to the local area committee.

Residents have until November 19 to comment on the application before it is put to councillors, most likely on December 7.

Councillors on the local area committee will then consider all the issues raised by the application before deciding if permission should be granted.

These will include general planning policy, traffic generation, car parking provision and the impact on nature conservation.