COUNCIL chiefs last night approved plans for a Go Ape tree-top assault course in Southampton.

At midnight, after five hours of heated exchanges, councillors voted nine to two in favour of the application which will see thousands of residents swinging from the tree tops.

The proposal will now be rubber stamped by the Liberal Democrat controlled Eastleigh Borough Council with construction likely to start in the New Year.

Councillor Rupert Kyrle, chairman of the Hedge End, West End and Botley local area committee was happy with the decision.

Speaking after the result he said: "It's a very complex application but we fully explored the issues and had reference to all the information from our officers, great experts in their field.

"We listened to all the residents concerns and reached the right decision for our community."

Around 100 people packed the Hedge End 2000 Centre to hear a whether a tree-top assault course at the Itchen Valley Country Park would be given the go ahead.

Around ten campaigners put their concerns to councillors saying they believed the new high wire adventure course would cause problems to wildlife, traffic and most prominently noise levels in the park.

Objections were raised over excessive noise, threats to wildlife, and even possible problems with alcohol related disorder.

Margaret Raff, from Friends of the Itchen Valley Country Park, had taken councillors to nearby Lower Itchen Fisheries at the weekend in bid to shock them over the likely noise levels.

Margaret believed that the proposal had been decided long before tonight's meeting, speaking after the result she said: "The process was flawed from the start.

"The issue is, is Go Ape in the right place or not and the arguments tonight showed that Itchen Valley Country Park is not the right place.

"We won the argument but not the result."

Matt Johns, who complied an environmental impact report for Go Ape, earlier told the committee an adventure course would provide an opportunity for "inspiration, information and education".

Ben Davies, Business Development Manager for Go Ape was delighted with the committees decision, he said: "We are thrilled about opening Go Ape at Itchen Valley Country Park and look forward to working with the community to create a fantastic resource for the people of Southampton or Eastleigh."