PaulM - yes I visit the area regularly thanks. I knew the area before the slate mine attraction opened and the roads were much easier to use, the mine as it is attracts a large number of visitors, of they can't survive on the numbers they have now a *temporary* zip wire won't make a bit of difference to them.

Derek, both were valid points you raised.

... Although by letting through the petty sarcastic comments the moderator has shown their bias in this matter, I had thought newspapers were impartial. When you starting weighting articles towards a certain viewpoint you've stopped reporting the news and starting pushing your own agenda, the same applies to moderating comments. When you allow sarcastic petty remarks through then you allow people to make attacks on others which is poor.

Well done to the moderators of these comments, when you start letting petty sarcastic comments through like the one posted by Marra then it makes any attempts at discussion here worthless.

@ Me - Harmed numbers..... have you even been up Fleetwith Pike ? Have you visited the Slate Mine ?

No, didn't think so.

Dont worry Derek 'Me' is an expert on everything that you can comment on on here!

@Me - yes, my comment was to elicit a point of view in the other direction - one from the objectors if you read towards the end of my comment. All in the balance of fairness as it would appear CN seem to support the plans and actively publish pro views. It's our paper, not somebodies personal podium.

Also, please see my other comments
1. Posted by Derek on 10 January 2013 at 12:28 and
2. Posted by Derek on 10 January 2013 at 14:59 and you'll realise we're on the same side.

Derek, I think you'll find Sir Chris Bonnington is a climber not an expert on tourism generated from tacky thrill rides like the zip wire, he may be well educated on mountaineering that doesn't mean he is an expert on the zip wire though.

I have worked in tourism and believe this zip wire would have done nothing to increase visitor numbers and may well have harmed them.

CN has published an excellent article giving Sir Chris Bonningtons pro viewpoint.

http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/bonington-resigns-from-friends-of-the-lake-district-after-zip-wire-move-1.1026854?referrerPath=home

Perhaps (in the interest of fairness) we can now expect a balanced article from the expert objectors viewpoint?

The lake district is the most visited national park in the UK by far with about 16 million visitors a year. This is despite it being at the opposite side of the country to London. I really like Honistor slate mine and Via-Ferrata but I have to say I am quite pleased the zip-line has been turned down, if only because I would hate it to have opened the doors for many other such schemes across the fells. It is for the visual scenery, tranquility and already abundant 'natural' outdoor activities (walking, climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, gill scrambling, wind surfing etc) that people come to the lakes so that is why it needs to be conserved without being over developed - we should not damage the hand that feeds us. Also, anyone who thinks there is nothing to do for young people in the lakes now (see earlier list) would probably not be interested in going on a zip line anyway.

Alice, I'm young and object to the zip wire, in fact people there are people of all ages who object to the scheme, there are also people of all ages who support it. Lets not start stereotyping and categorising people as old because they object to something.

George, you're right, there are some noisy areas in the Lakes, so why add ot it with this ridiculous idea? We get thousands in search of peace and tranquility compared to a limited number who are after 'thrills' do we alienate the thousands for a few?