Consultation reveals majority against West End plan (From Daily Echo)

I expect the 104 people and 154 named on the petition are over the age of being able to use Go Ape so are ruining it for the younger generation, younger families wanting to do things together, children, teenagers having fun. Gone are the days when children were able to jump on a bike and go playing in the woods, parks etc. At least this is safe, fun, gives the younger generations something different to do and gets them out whilst you older generation watch the tv, have a cuppa and half hour of catching flies.
Have you ever heard of a PARTY POOPER?
GOOD LUCK GO APE-MY FAMILY WILL BE USING IT.

After visiting the one at Moors Valley, then I have to say this would be a welcome addition to the area.

Very well run, environmentally sensitive and certainly enhances the existing facilities.

The local council and community would do well to embrace this venture and use it to enhance the facilities and attractions of Itchen Valley Country Park.

It's a lovely area and we should be doing more to encourage visitors to experience it, yet at the same time making sure it's done in a sensitive way.

The Moors Valley Country park is a shining beacon of how to keep that balance intact and the Go Ape feature there is an integral part of this.

I Couldnt agree more, it would be such a great day out for the whole family and saves time having to travel to ones further away.

Plus its not gonna have that much traffic issues as normally they only run small groups at a time. Why dont some people just get a life and stop moaning, next these people will wanna cancel Christmas too!

I couldn't agree most with what the other 2 posts have said. My children attend summer camp at Itchen Valley
every year. Whilst we were in the shop a very rude lady from the older generation took it upon herself to storm in and shout at the receptionist. She had just heard about the proposals for Go Ape and wasn't happy. WHY? because in her words 'it will stop or restrict her and her girl friends who meet weekly from riding their horses.' As my daughter turned to me and said 'Isn't she lucky to own and be able to ride her horse in this park like we also should be able to have fun in this park.'

kingsaint wrote:
"Why dont some people just get a life and stop moaning, next these people will wanna cancel Christmas too!"

Now that IS a good idea - ban it along with people who write "wanna" instead of "want to".

On the other hand, I'm all in favour of Go-Ape.

Why are there so many closed minded idiots out there with nothing better than to stop progress. Have these people ever seen a go ape site, i've been to the one in Moors valley and the one in Nottingham. Both places are really well done, they entice more people in and they look after the sites really well.
What are these people worried about, the noise? Unless they have hearing of a dog, i don't think its an issue. Increased road users? On otherwise empty roads, what will they do, better tell them to keep clear of the motorway! Damaging the area? They help with the maintenace of the area and make it all user friendly.
So all you people against Go ape, get back in your box and get a life!!

Not a NIMBY issue my a**e!! I bet the majority of those who signed the petition either live on Allington Lane or use the various riding establishments that litter the lane (yes the excrement from their rides makes an awful mess of the road - it were paper, cans etc there would be another outcry from residents!!).

Just where these NIMBYs get off I do not know. I cannot belive that such a small number of people should ruin the potential for a much needed additional facility. Yes it would attract people from outside the Borough but it would also generate income.

Smallmindedness prevails especially as a good number of likely objectors land borders on the country park - clearly they are more worried about their asset value than the needs of the majority.

I say GO APE should happen - I'm 53 and would love to try this facility!!

NIMBYs out - GO APE in!!

The Watcher wrote:
After visiting the one at Moors Valley, then I have to say this would be a welcome addition to the area.

Very well run, environmentally sensitive and certainly enhances the existing facilities.

The local council and community would do well to embrace this venture and use it to enhance the facilities and attractions of Itchen Valley Country Park.

It's a lovely area and we should be doing more to encourage visitors to experience it, yet at the same time making sure it's done in a sensitive way.

The Moors Valley Country park is a shining beacon of how to keep that balance intact and the Go Ape feature there is an integral part of this.

After recent spats it's rather pleasant to agree with every word you say.

On numerous visits to Moors Valley my family & I have often stood(along with many others) to watch people of all ages have fantastic fun as they "Go Ape". It doesn't impede the hundreds of walkers and cyclists who frequent the site at the same time. This activity would bring some welcome revenue to Itchen Valley and would save a few quid on fuel for all the punters from this neck of the woods who make the trip to Moors Valley. My boy can't wait until he's big enough to give it a go and neither can I (promised not to go on it until we could do it together!).

I agree, what a great outdoor activity, I would gladly take my grandchildren to one or go and watch myself if there was a local one here ..

Go Ape is great but this was totally the wrong site. Why does this not matter to any of you? Just cos somethign is great and fun doenst mean you should stop using your brains and say it can be placed anywhere. These woods are too small, it needs a bigger site. The Woodland Trust, The Wildlife Trust, The Bat groups, Natural England all had worries over the site and yet the company claimed it was just a few NIMBIEs objecting, playing to people prejudices rather than allowing simple facts to tell the story. The simple facts are that yes Go Ape is great, excellent for kids in the right place but not in those woods. Lets take it somewhere else and in the mean time until we find that rigth site people can go 21 miles to Go Ape in Moors Valley down a motorway, its no big deal guys - lets get this right for the sake of Eastleigh Borough and your grandkids!

concernedofstdenys wrote:
Go Ape is great but this was totally the wrong site. Why does this not matter to any of you? Just cos somethign is great and fun doenst mean you should stop using your brains and say it can be placed anywhere. These woods are too small, it needs a bigger site. The Woodland Trust, The Wildlife Trust, The Bat groups, Natural England all had worries over the site and yet the company claimed it was just a few NIMBIEs objecting, playing to people prejudices rather than allowing simple facts to tell the story. The simple facts are that yes Go Ape is great, excellent for kids in the right place but not in those woods. Lets take it somewhere else and in the mean time until we find that rigth site people can go 21 miles to Go Ape in Moors Valley down a motorway, its no big deal guys - lets get this right for the sake of Eastleigh Borough and your grandkids!

If the Moors Valley one is anything to go by then I imagine that this venture will take up no more than 3 or 4 acres of a 440 acre plot.

And if you just want to consider just the woodland part of the park, then it will utilise 3% or 4% of the woodland in the Park.

On top of that, then apart from a few areas that will need to be fenced off, you are more than able to wander around as people climb above you.

Go Ape in Moors Valley has been a very good addition to their park and has improved the area and we should be looking to grasp this initiative and use it as a stimulus to improve the park and to raise its status.

Claiming the woods are too small is a really weak argument.

This is apointless article...nothing more can be done now... However, I will keep this relevant to the topic, there's no point debating the GA proposal at IVCP now, really.
The people who have objected are not idiots or small minded people. They are using their democratic right to express their opinion about something that matters to them.

Would you say the same to someone who chose to vote for a party that was different to yours?

People are entitled to do this, it doesn't make them idiots, nimbys, fun spoilers or amything like it, it makes them concientious and caring about something that means a lot to them.

It syas far more about you as people that you are happy to override a democratic process and insult people for partaking in it. These people don't have the decision to make but they entitled to be heard.

Just because not enough people have supported it doesn't give anyone the right to be insulting and abusive to anyone that has written in - Apathy is not the responsibility of the 'no' camp after all.

As for the 26 v. 104, neither is it the people who have spoken against this proposal that Go Ape couldn't muster up the 'hundreds of letters of support' they claim to have recieved from the public to support this proposal.

Why is it so wrong that this seems to be againgst public opinion? Nearly every pole on here has come out against and that is reflected in the public consultation...is that wrong too?

If you look at the IVCP meeting agenda for the 7th, you'll see a list of 12 unique points that have been raised as supportive reasons for the propsal.

You'll then see a list of 55 unique points that have been given as opposing reasons for the proposal.

These are unique points, so it's not just because the numbers who voted are different, but because the proposal is heavily weighted by it's own flaws.

I'm sure you've seen the objections, but many of them are about the lack of proper, professional and thorough consultation by GA and the council, so if anyone's responsibile, it's GA and EBC.

Sorry, but there it is.

Robbo35 wrote:
This is apointless article...nothing more can be done now... However, I will keep this relevant to the topic, there's no point debating the GA proposal at IVCP now, really. The people who have objected are not idiots or small minded people. They are using their democratic right to express their opinion about something that matters to them. Would you say the same to someone who chose to vote for a party that was different to yours? People are entitled to do this, it doesn't make them idiots, nimbys, fun spoilers or amything like it, it makes them concientious and caring about something that means a lot to them. It syas far more about you as people that you are happy to override a democratic process and insult people for partaking in it. These people don't have the decision to make but they entitled to be heard. Just because not enough people have supported it doesn't give anyone the right to be insulting and abusive to anyone that has written in - Apathy is not the responsibility of the 'no' camp after all. As for the 26 v. 104, neither is it the people who have spoken against this proposal that Go Ape couldn't muster up the 'hundreds of letters of support' they claim to have recieved from the public to support this proposal. Why is it so wrong that this seems to be againgst public opinion? Nearly every pole on here has come out against and that is reflected in the public consultation...is that wrong too? If you look at the IVCP meeting agenda for the 7th, you'll see a list of 12 unique points that have been raised as supportive reasons for the propsal. You'll then see a list of 55 unique points that have been given as opposing reasons for the proposal. These are unique points, so it's not just because the numbers who voted are different, but because the proposal is heavily weighted by it's own flaws. I'm sure you've seen the objections, but many of them are about the lack of proper, professional and thorough consultation by GA and the council, so if anyone's responsibile, it's GA and EBC. Sorry, but there it is.

In any situation those who are against something will very often be the ones who shout the loudest and be the ones to go and do something about it.

I'm not knocking that, as you say people have their right to express themselves, just stating that it is human nature to get up and complain about something. In these issues silence really does start to equate to acquiescence. People aren't going to get off their ar5es to campaign for one of these parks, but please don't equate that to apathy.

I've never campaigned for any leisure activty, but regularly use many of them!!!!

104 complaints is hardly a groundswell of opinion if this project is so unwanted.

The Watcher wrote:

Robbo35 wrote:
This is apointless article...nothing more can be done now... However, I will keep this relevant to the topic, there's no point debating the GA proposal at IVCP now, really. The people who have objected are not idiots or small minded people. They are using their democratic right to express their opinion about something that matters to them. Would you say the same to someone who chose to vote for a party that was different to yours? People are entitled to do this, it doesn't make them idiots, nimbys, fun spoilers or amything like it, it makes them concientious and caring about something that means a lot to them. It syas far more about you as people that you are happy to override a democratic process and insult people for partaking in it. These people don't have the decision to make but they entitled to be heard. Just because not enough people have supported it doesn't give anyone the right to be insulting and abusive to anyone that has written in - Apathy is not the responsibility of the 'no' camp after all. As for the 26 v. 104, neither is it the people who have spoken against this proposal that Go Ape couldn't muster up the 'hundreds of letters of support' they claim to have recieved from the public to support this proposal. Why is it so wrong that this seems to be againgst public opinion? Nearly every pole on here has come out against and that is reflected in the public consultation...is that wrong too? If you look at the IVCP meeting agenda for the 7th, you'll see a list of 12 unique points that have been raised as supportive reasons for the propsal. You'll then see a list of 55 unique points that have been given as opposing reasons for the proposal. These are unique points, so it's not just because the numbers who voted are different, but because the proposal is heavily weighted by it's own flaws. I'm sure you've seen the objections, but many of them are about the lack of proper, professional and thorough consultation by GA and the council, so if anyone's responsibile, it's GA and EBC. Sorry, but there it is.

In any situation those who are against something will very often be the ones who shout the loudest and be the ones to go and do something about it.

I'm not knocking that, as you say people have their right to express themselves, just stating that it is human nature to get up and complain about something. In these issues silence really does start to equate to acquiescence. People aren't going to get off their ar5es to campaign for one of these parks, but please don't equate that to apathy.

I've never campaigned for any leisure activty, but regularly use many of them!!!!

104 complaints is hardly a groundswell of opinion if this project is so unwanted.

@ The Watcher.
I know 104 complaints is no groundswell, and nearly of what you said is why I stated that this article is pointless - and seems to be another excuse to advertice Go Ape alongside the article.

With figures of 26 and 104, which as you say are not representative of anything really., it's not really worth debating on here, or publishing. However, that said, the 104 and 155 figures do show a level of concern that should be addressed and not just dismissed as complainers. They are valid concerns and the people who made them should not be insulted the way they have been.

I'm thinking the Watchers point about getting off a**es works the other way round too. Silence from doesnt mean the public want it either. Thats an own goal as well as being entirely valid criticism of the against camp. People aren't trusted to help make decisions, they are patronised by the muppets. All the smart leaders go to London and we get the B team, either incompetent or deliberately trying to cover up opposition - I dont know which one I dont like consipracy theorists so I think it might be they are just crap. The smiley girl who gave me a leaflet might well have been a 'NIMBY' but I read in the Echo the council had forgotten to ask the local people to the meeting so she's really gonna be happy isnt she. I really hate how dishonest this all is from everyone on all sides. Everyone exagerrates their case, some of the stuff Go Ape say is insulting, people think there is corruption when its probably incompetence and noones trust that a proper public discussion could happen. The company spin people persist in saying there are just a few people against it and you other people on here believe it. That is so insulting. The local residents are by definition NIMBYS, and there is not that much wrong with that, so would you be, think about it, it is their backyard. I'm not saying that council should alwyas pay attention to NIMBYS but its a pretty cheap shot when there are 250 other people (there is only about 6 people that live by the park) and my encounter with them was a leaflet and I have my own opinions and I made my own objection because I trust the Woodland Trust. None of the people I know are objecting to this care much about the local residents, they care about the Woodland Trust and its opinions. I am proud of my membership and I think they have doen brilliant work for many years and people dont understand how important their work is. KBHendgeEnd are the Woodland Trust party poopers? Everytime I ask people about the trust, people start talking about Nimbys and they get rude, insulting and nasty. Sometimes I can hate this town, why cant people be civil? Why dont they have any pride in our area or any courtesy for others, arghhhhhh!!! The Watcher for example, please answer my question- I know Go Ape in Moors Valley is excellent, I want outdoor stuff for kids, I am not a NIMBY and I'm not an idiot (although my intelligence is questionable according to Andy from Locks Heath), why should I not believe the judgement of the Woodland Trust or Natural England or the Wildlife Trust? Why do you know better? answer me **** you! arghhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I didnt swear then, it thought it was a swear but it wasnt any worse than dam. I didnt mean to be rude after saying I hate this rudeness. I meant to be frustrated in a friendly way.

Well I maynot be as educated as some of you but Ive read enough to know that if it happens or not I won’t be able to afford what it would cost to take my sons and me on it. I suppose my council tax will increase to cover the £50k – £100K that EBC intend to spend improving car parking to accommodate Go Ape customers, no doubt car park charges will also rise at Itchen. Why couldn’t this valuable public space and public money be used on something that the thousands of unemployed or less well off in the area could use, heaven knows they need some kind of activity to ease their depression and frustrations in these difficult times. Once again the privileged few will benefit to the detriment of others. I bet the persons who will approve these plans don’t live on the breadline!

FedUpnbroke wrote:
Well I maynot be as educated as some of you but Ive read enough to know that if it happens or not I won’t be able to afford what it would cost to take my sons and me on it. I suppose my council tax will increase to cover the £50k – £100K that EBC intend to spend improving car parking to accommodate Go Ape customers, no doubt car park charges will also rise at Itchen. Why couldn’t this valuable public space and public money be used on something that the thousands of unemployed or less well off in the area could use, heaven knows they need some kind of activity to ease their depression and frustrations in these difficult times. Once again the privileged few will benefit to the detriment of others. I bet the persons who will approve these plans don’t live on the breadline!

And actually, this is what it boils down to, really. Everyone can debate every point and find pros & cons to suit their arguments, but this is what's important. The theft of this amenity from the public to benefit a private company. If the private company took their development to a private landlord, everyone involved would benefit. This way, some of the people involved loose.

I agree with Concerned, that this has been a far from honest application and that has caused most of the stress about it. Wool has been pulled over many eyes many times and it's unlikely that we'll ever find the truth, because it's cloaked in so much mud.

I was told £200000 for the car park, why dont the company buy that for their business, of course FedUp doent want his council tax to pay when its clear they say they wont even use it as it £100 for a family. How many of you supporters last spent £100 on a family day out? When you do take your grandkids it wont be very often will it? Which is why you should go to Moors Valley. Once or twice per year - great day out - everyone happy. The people that use the woods go every week or month. What muppet thinks local people will go to this often? The same muppet that thinks it okay to displace local people in order for non locals to fill the parking space and pay the precious parking meter pounds. Im sounding like Leagur of Gentlemen. The muppets must be paid too much or maybe they can go in on expenses? Ha ha thats a joke by the way. Spend £200,000 on free bikes for Eastleigh instead! We could have 2,000 bikes for that, give one to every youth and force the beggers to use them. well well I'm sounding like Norman Tebbit. Why on earth would the public pay for Go Apes new car park? I read that the park want cash from the parking meters, why not charge Go Ape a higher rent instead? and charge the park visitors less? What has the world come to (Mr Mel dew)when the parkie wants to ignore the Woodladn Trust because of parking meters? I met a park bloke years and years ago by the caravan site and he told me was leaving because management was obsessed with parking meters. I only cycle and I want to hear about better bus links to the park not new car parks and more traffic.

Since this was written and Go Ape got approval the Friends of Itchen Valley Park have recieved over 200 further letters of support, another 20+ more formal objections have been sent to the council on top of the 104, and another 150 people have signed the petititons (electronic and paper). None of this was mentioned at the Planning Meeting.