[Southampton Cycling] Fwd: Please Don't Go Ape in our Country Park

[Rob Jordan]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: rebeccac at physics.gla.ac.uk <rebeccac at physics.gla.ac.uk>
Date: Tue, Oct 20, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Subject: Please Don't Go Ape in our Country Park
To: "mair+bikeuser at maircrosoft.com <mair%2Bbikeuser at maircrosoft.com>" <
mair+bikeuser at maircrosoft.com <mair%2Bbikeuser at maircrosoft.com>>


Dear Cyclists,

I wondered if your members would be interested in this story - it will
impact on the cycle routes.

Journalist James Maden has written an extremely positive piece on Fri 16th
in the Daily Echo about his great day out at Go Ape.  His description of
his wonderful experience has an electronic vote counter underneath it asking
whether the people want a Go Ape development in Itchen Valley Country
Park.

The article implies the protesting local residents are simply NIMBYs but
its not just be the neighbours who are unhappy. I live 5 miles away, and I
also work sometimes in Glasgow where Go Ape recently cancelled plans to
build in a public park. In Glasgow, there was so much opposition (when
people finally got the full picture).  www.savepollockpark.com shows
another side to this Go Ape story. The Itchen Valley Country Park plans
mirror Pollock because they will restrict access to a public park.

In March 2007, the PM stated : “We will continue to robustly defend the
Green Belt”. The proposal to build a Go Ape in Itchen Valley Country Park
will destroy public green space. Morally the park should be defended for
the "Common Good" (museums, schools, parks) its what makes our communities
and it should be cherished and kept free for all.

In the right place – the Go Ape experience can be a great attraction. But
that ‘right place’ is a large and remote wooded area. Go Ape have
discovered their business is extremely lucrative and want their new sites
close to cities regardless of how much woodland they take from the urban
public even though research shows that walking in green spaces does
wonders for the physical and mental health of city people.

Go Ape will impact on most of the Itchen Valley Park woodland and entry
will be at least £40 for one adult and a child. Go Ape should be seeking
private land and we should be allowed to walk in our public parks for
free.

Clearly the Daily Echo cannot have a meaningful vote if the article above
the counter does not present both sides of the argument. James Madden’s is
100% on the side of Go Ape. Anyone with any issues about public green
space just sounds like they are trying to spoil the fun.

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/search/4686858.Tree_top_plans_met_with_hostility_from_protesters

If any of your membership shares our opinion on this, I wondered
if they might write to the Editor of the Daily Echo. Asking them, in the
interests of balanced reporting, to present the alternative aspects of
this important debate. Particularly when asking readers to vote on an
issue.

Go Ape are an experienced developer, placing a lot of advertising with
local papers and making bogus cuddly ‘Eco’ claims. Other sites recount
tales of environmental promises broken. The Daily Echo needs to know
Southampton cares about its parks.

The park belongs to the public and Eastleigh Council should consult with
them properly, fairly and honestly.  There was a meeting that people were
invited to but were given 48 hours notice.  That doesn’t count as
consultation - if it is not widely publicised with plenty of notice it is
just cynicism.

Would your members consider clicking NO for us or writing to the Editor?

ian.murray at dailyecho.co.uk


regards
Rebecca

Dr Rebecca Crawford
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