THE man behind plans to create a 500m long 'luge' track in the Eden Valley says the attraction will be unlike anything in the UK.

Daniel Holder, owner of Cumbria’s hugely successful eco holiday park, The Quiet Site at Ullswater, revealed plans for a 500m luge track with chairlift and refreshments area at Nord Vue Farm at Armathwaite.

He envisages that the purpose-built, downhill woodland track providing a thrilling ride in gravity powered carts will attract around 1,900 visitors daily.

The proposals, which have been submitted for approval to Eden District Council, will be discussed at a public meeting held next Wednesday, September 29, in Armathwaite Village Hall at 6.30pm, to give residents' an opportunity to air their views.

Speaking to The Cumberland News, Mr Holder, said he has joined forces with Michelin starred hotelier and landowner, Charles Lowther, to seek planning permission for a luge track in woodland at Nord Vue Farm, Armathwaite.

In line with The Quiet Site’s eco credentials, this new visitor attraction will have a strong focus on sustainability. Mr Holder, who has been planning this venture for the past five years, said: “Fully sustainable attractions in the UK are thin on the ground but this one ticks all the green boxes.

"It will be carbon neutral, energy positive, community positive, ecology positive, zero waste, have no visual impact and little transport impact.”

Luge was developed as an outdoor recreational activity in New Zealand almost 40 years ago. Tracks now successfully operate in New Zealand, Canada, Singapore, China and the Philippines.

This new UK site will be located in woodland at Nord Vue Farm which is just off the A6 between Carlisle and Penrith. There is easy access to this area which has the perfect topography for a track of this kind.

"The development of a luge track in the UK is an exciting project," said Mr Holder. "It will be popular both locally and nationally with locals benefitting from initial complimentary and ongoing discounted rides. In addition, schools will be offered discounted visits for science classes engaging in subjects such as gravity, friction, kinetic and potential energy."

"We have had a fair degree of interest from the local community. It is a new attraction in their patch. But we want to work with them, and I am happy to go along to the public meeting and answer any questions residents may have," said Mr Holder.

"Visually you cannot see the attraction. It is situated on a flat-topped fell and the chairlift is sitting within a canopy of trees," added Mr Holder.

"We are not looking at putting in masses of attractions. There will be refreshments, and toilets and changing area. The wheeled sledges are fairly silent and are powered by gravity. There are twists, turns and tunnels and it will be a thrilling experience for the whole family," said Mr Holder.

Eden District Councillor, Gordon Nicholson said he had called the public meeting. "We are going to look at the site and get some idea of what the overall visual impact will be, also the impact on local services and the traffic implications."