Survey Being Held on Gunnersbury Park Zip Wire Proposal
Company that runs park says responses will influence their decision on Go Ape
Go Ape facility will operate along the centre of the park
The company that operates Gunnersbury Park is holding a survey on the plan for Go Ape to set up a high wire course.
The Gunnersbury Community Interest Company (CIC) says that the outcome of the survey will have a significant impact on the decision making process.
This consultation is open until 5pm on 1 September 2018. To participate, complete a short online survey.
There will also be an on-site open event at Gunnersbury Park hosted by Go Ape where their representatives will be available to answer questions. This event will take place 12noon-6pm on 31 August, and 9am-5pm on 1 September.
Once the survey results are collated it is likely that the proposal will go forward to the statutory consultation stage, planning and construction stages.
Approval has been given by both Ealing and Hounslow Councils to start the process of granting a 25 year lease to Go Ape. This is subject to consultation but the plan has the enthusiastic support of both Councils.
Go Ape offers high wire treetop activities and their Gunnersbury Park outdoor adventure facility is scheduled to open in June 2019. The move has been hailed by both councils as an opportunity to create more jobs in the area and increase health and wellbeing in the borough but some local residents have raised concerns about what they describe as the increasing commercialisation of Gunnersbury Park.
The Go Ape facility would see the installation of bridges and high wires between treetops in the wooded areas of the park. Adventure Forest Ltd is to be awarded a contract of up to 25 years to operate in the park. It will occupy the central section of the park running from close to the site of the current car park to just north of the Potomac lake near the southern end.
The CIC which operates the park on behalf of the two councils would receive a performance based rental income. There would be minimum payment of £50,000 per annum to the CIC with projections from Go Ape claiming that payments of £117,000 per annum will be made after three years of operation. A report to Ealing Council on the proposal stated that the facilities will be constructed in an area which will not displace any existing commercial activities in the park.
Go Ape have facilities across the country including one in Battersea Park at which the fee for usage is £28 for children up to 16 and £36 for others.