CAMPA I G N E R S fighting plans for a tree-top assault course in Hampshire have vowed to continue their battle for a judicial review into the decision.

Council chiefs yesterday confirmed that full planning permission had been given to high-wire specialists Go Ape for their course at the Itchen Valley Country Park.

Owner of Lower Itchen Fisheries Lyndsey Farmiloe says she will meet with her solicitor this week to discuss the possibility of putting the decision in front of a judge.

Should the decision be upheld work on the course in West End is expected to start in autumn with Hampshire residents swinging from the tree tops from spring 2011.

Mrs Farmiloe, whose family have owned the fishing business on the River Itchen’s famous chalk streams for more than 50- years, described the decision as “unbelievable but predictable”.

She said: “I’m having a meeting with my solicitor and I will speak to them to work out a way forward. I still maintain that due consideration wasn’t given to the fishery and the conservation orders.

“I’m certainly not going to give it up now, I’ve come too far but it will ultimately be up to the barristers.”

Councillors voted in December to approve the plan with conditions in front of around 100 residents who campaigned to stop the course being built.

Margaret Raff, from Friends of the Itchen Valley Country Park, believed the way the council had reached the decision was “undemocratic”.

She said: “We’re unhappy with the way they arrived at the decision, the way they have not taken notice of other points of view and the fact the council were clearly in support of the project from the start.

They’re using public money and local authority time to support the initiative.”

Ben Davies, business development manager for Go Ape said: “The course will create local jobs and we will work closely with the Borough Council’s Countryside Service to help ensure that Itchen Valley Country Park continues to be a beautiful and popular destination.”