Unpopular plans to build a Go Ape ropes course in the middle of a South East London park are set to be approved by Bexley Council next week.
The controversial proposal has garnered nearly 500 objections from Bexley residents who do not want to see the commercial enterprise move into Grade II listed Danson Park, the borough’s second largest public green space.
Outdoors adventure company Go Ape operates 36 sites nationwide and wants to bring one of its high ropes courses to a woodland area on the north-western side of the park, next to the playground.
The Go Ape site would have three different rope courses and a shipping container storage unit. Amendments would be made to a changing room building nearby to create a reception, storeroom, staff room and group space.
Go Ape said the courses would not “block or hinder existing public access to the woodland area of the park”, adding: “Indeed, the presence of Go Ape will promote Danson Park’s open spaces as a multi-functional space that caters for a range of activities, lifestyles, ages and needs.”
The Go Ape proposal received no objections from relevant authorities such as the council’s Environmental Health and Parks & Open Spaces teams. The planning application has been received negatively by a large number of Bexley residents, 493 of whom sent objection letters.
A wide variety of concerns have been raised by objectors who do not want to see a commercial enterprise take root in the public park. Many fear the course would damage the trees to which it would be attached, creating problems for wildlife such as bats and other animals.
Go Ape has carried out ecological assessments at the site and says it confirmed that no protected species were identified as being present during the surveys. It has proposed mitigation measures such installing bat, bird and hedgehog boxes, only carrying out tree works outside nesting season and retaining deadwood on the site.
Residents also worried that the Go Ape site could lead to an increase in antisocial behaviour at Danson Park and the course would disrupt their peaceful enjoyment of the public space. Many wondered whether there was enough parking capacity nearby to cope.
One potential issue raised was that the course would overlook the children’s play area and due to the presence of the Go Ape site, the volume of children in the park would rise. One objector claimed this meant the risk of child abduction would increase.
One neighbour raised safety concerns by citing accidents at other Go Ape locations. Bexley planners said the serious incidents identified were “isolated and occur very infrequently across the number of Go Ape sites that operate across the UK and the USA”.
Credit: Ethan Doyle White (creative commons licence)
They also noted that Go Ape had been awarded the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Gold Award for eight consecutive years.
Bexley’s planning team—which has recommended the Go Ape plans for approval when they go before the council’s Planning Committee on June 11—said the outdoor adventure business would deliver a “new recreational offering within Danson Park, which would complement and diversify the park’s established leisure provision”.
Benefits listed included: “Enhanced recreational opportunities for the local community, economic benefits through increased visitor numbers and associated job creation within the local economy, and woodland and ecological enhancements that would exceed the current level of management provided by the Council’s Parks and Open Spaces team.”
