Council pulls plans for ‘high nets’ course at beauty spot – despite approving scheme just weeks ago

Rochdale council has pulled plans for a ‘high nets’ activity course at a popular beauty spot despite the proposals getting the go-ahead just last month.

Proposals for the ‘action adventure’ leisure attraction at Hollingworth Lake, in Littleborough, were passed by a majority vote of the authority’s planning committee in mid-February.

Part of the council’s ‘masterplan’ for the country park, it was to be based next to the Pavillion Cafe, on Rakewood Road.

Bosses said the green belt scheme would be ‘perfect’ for older children and could also be used for team-building activities, parties and school visits.

But concerns were raised at the meeting over the impact it could have on a local riding school, while Littleborough Civic Trust continued to challenge the application on the grounds it was ‘unsound’.

Now the council has withdrawn the application to ‘look into the issues in more detail’. It expects to submit a new application for an alternative site in the area in the future.

Councillor Irene Davidson, who voted against approving the application, said she was delighted by the decision.

“I’m absolutely over the moon that they have had second thoughts because, as I said at the planning meeting, it was definitely in the wrong place,” she said.

Councillor Davidson, who represents neighbouring Milnrow, said it was not right to spoil a beautiful spot ‘with such an aggressive planning application’.

“I can fully understand they want to move forward and make Hollingworth Lake a special place to visit, but there are ways and means of doing it,” she added.

“People are happy and content with the way it is and do not want it spoiled.”

Councillor Davidson, accepts that improvements needed to be made in the area – but remains adamant the high nets course ‘is not one of them’.

“I will support the business plan to improve facilities that are there,” said the Lib Dem councillor. “But to put something like that into the equation – to take away a greenfield site and take away nature – was too much for me and I couldn’t support it.

“I think deep down they [the council] knew it was in the wrong place but they had to bring it to us [the planning committee] to make a decision.

“I’m glad now that someone has listened to us – those of use who think it’s in the wrong place – and look for somewhere else for it to go.”

The application had been passed by six votes to five when the planning committee met on 16 February.

It heard from Stephanie Mills, owner of the established Dickey Steps Riding School, who told the meeting she feared the course would spell the ‘demise’ of her business.

Resident Paul Clayton also spoke out against the loss of habitat – including a 22.75% loss in biodiversity -while Littleborough Lakeside councillor Peter Reed claimed the proposal was going to ‘destroy a wildlife haven’.

But despite Councillor Peter Malcolm expressing the view it was ‘criminal to destroy the biodiversity of a natural area for a play park’, the committee narrowly came down on the side of granting permission.

Rochdale council says it will be giving residents and businesses the opportunity to comment on any future proposal before any decisions are made.

Nick Statham, Local Democracy Reporting Service