“A blot on a beautiful landscape and a blight on local people’s lives” is how objectors are describing plans for an outdoor recreational luge track near Armathwaite.
More than 20 objectors packed into the first meeting of the Eden locality board for Westmorland and Furness Council at Penrith Town Hall, when a petition signed by more 1,000 people was handed in to the authority.
However, the applicants stand strongly by the scheme, saying it will bring a world class attraction to Cumbria and prove to be truly carbon neutral.
The planning application, which is expected to go before a meeting of the new unitary authority’s strategic planning committee later this year, is for land at Blaze Fell to be used for an outdoor recreational luge track with ancillary operations facility, chairlift and parking provision.
Objectors, including Peter Stybelski who lives close to the proposed site, say they don’t want a theme park ride for thrill-seekers to be built in such a sensitive rural location. “It is an unsuitable development,” he said.
Ed Neil-Gallacher, who lives near Armathwaite, said he started the petition to show the strength of local opposition to the development.
He told the meeting that more than 1,000 people had signed the petition, all three local parish councils had objected to the plan, along with 350 individuals, and the council’s own arboriculturalist had also raised concerns.
Mr Neil-Gallacher said the proposed site was in open countryside and the plan, which could not be described as farm diversification, would have very limited economic benefit for the immediate area.
“The main car park and disproportionally large visitor centre, situated at the top of the hill, will consequently be visible for miles,” he said.
In addition, its design was said to be not in keeping with the rural environment.
Mr Neil-Gallacher said: “The scale of the buildings is much larger than would be necessary for the running of the luge alone and reveals the intention to develop the site as a destination.”
“As the majority of visitors to the Eden Valley come for its unspoilt quiet nature, this development will adversely affect existing tourism businesses.
“We believe the development will result in harm to the environment, both on a local level, and by contributing to CO2 emissions — 700 tonnes of concrete are projected to be used in laying the luge run, and a little under 1,000 people per day are expected to visit.
“There is a legitimate concern that the increase in traffic will have an unreasonable impact on the quality of life of nearby residents in villages with absolutely no benefit to them.
“This type of attraction should be sited on a brownfield site near a large centre of population close to public transport where it could be a stimulus for a generation, rather than a blot on a beautiful landscape and a blight on local people’s lives.”
Daniel Holder and Charles Lowther, the joint proposers of this project, said: “The area could be the home to Europe’s first gravity powered, downhill luge track which will offer a unique experience and attract new audiences to the local area, helping to attract and disperse tourism throughout Cumbria.
“The original luge experience was established in New Zealand in 1985 and others can now be found in a growing number of locations across the world. This Cumbrian luge track would be the first in Europe.
“We are committed to building and operating one of the country’s first fully sustainable visitor attractions.
“The track itself will sit unobtrusively within an established maturing, managed woodland on the northern side of Blaze Fell, on Nord Vue Farm with excellent access less than a mile from the main arterial A6 main road.
“Armathwaite is situated two miles further down this road. This nearly 20 year old maturing woodland contains a natural gully which we have designed the attraction around and is flanked by the main high voltage power lines running through this part of Cumbria.
“The luge track itself will comprise a 3m wide, 850m long concrete track that meanders down this hillside under a canopy of existing trees. The track route has been carefully designed so that a minimum of healthy trees will need to be removed and the vast majority of trees will be left untouched (riding silently, close to nature, through lots of trees is part of the enjoyment).
“The project will also see many new trees being planted to increase the existing woodland, linking it to other woodlands on Nord Vue Farm. New ponds will be added to improve the habitat for newts. Natural England have stated that this project will improve the biodiversity of the area, which is great news.
“An attractive operations building will be built into the hill making it virtually invisible from the surrounding area, and with sustainability being at the forefront of this proposal, the building has been designed to be self-sufficient and carbon neutral. A large roof area with a photovoltaic panel array will power the building. The track will utilise the latest low carbon concrete and the foundations will be built with stone from the on-site quarry.
“Access to the attraction on Nord Vue Farm will be via the A6 and M6 approaches, and private car use will be minimised in favour of shuttle buses, and new public transport routes.
“When the attraction opens, it will employ around 50 people in full-time, well paid local jobs. Roles will include hospitality, customer service, engineering, maintenance, ecology and marketing.
“In addition, several local firms have already been involved in developing the proposals and we will actively promote opportunities for local suppliers to work with us. It will provide a viable farm diversification to Nord Vue Farm in the shadow of a very uncertain agricultural outlook.
“We understand that with any new proposal, especially one that proposes a brand-new idea, there will be intense local scrutiny.
“While the objectors say this attraction will be “a blot on the landscape and a blight on local people’s lives” we honestly believe that there will be no negative impact to the surrounding local communities. We are part of this community, sensitive to any potential impact, and as such have engaged with the local community to understand their concerns and mitigate any perceived impact.
“If planning permission is granted, Cumbria will gain a world class attraction which will operate as a truly carbon neutral business. It will improve biodiversity, drive employment, support local business and be a real asset to the Cumbrian economy and its local community.”
