Zip Off
22nd March 2018
2nd Feb 2018
Zip Off!
I have regularly blogged my concerns about the commodification of the landscape (http://www.iainwoodley.com/commodification) and the increasingly confused, if not diluted, understanding about the purpose and value of rare, wild and fragile landscapes (http://www.iainwoodley.com/what-are-national-parks-for). Once again, and though it seems the planning application has been withdrawn, the recent, very controversial proposal for a thrills and spills Zip wire installation continues to confirm/test my concerns.
The plan was to install a large number of zip wires on the sides of the iconic mountain - Helvellyn, stretching across one of the well known Lakes. In addition, there would be all the typical ancillary features such as car parking and, in this case, a (‘softner’) cycle way around the Lake.
The development, when considering its scale, has received considerable media interest. Attention that has been created due to the tension between the conservation arguments that wish to preserve a rare, fragile area, versus the desire to install a commercial adventure venture that could generate income and limited jobs.
There were big players on both side of the argument. Backing from a large utilities company, local tourist organisations versus National Trust, Friends of the Lake District and local activists. The arguments, both ways, once again, as argued in my previous blogs, demonstrated how the needs of man are placed against the needs of an increasingly rare environment.
You might wonder why I mention all of this as the appplication has been withdrawn. You might suggest that the concerns I have are now irrelevant, old news and not worth any further comment. However, I still believe the threat of this and similar, future proposals are just waiting in the wings as the conflict of interest demonstrated by the varying (influential) groups in this recent application could easily mean something could slip through next time.
Any number of these groups, if their stance changed, due their own political or commercial position, could easily have given this and future proposals the confidence to progress. This could result in tipping the balance between conservation and commercial needs; as result, create a prescedent that would push away the concept and philosophical position of saving and conserving wild landscapes. Something that inevitably allows the slow, incoming tide of commodification that finally converts our national parks into the thrills and spills theme destinations they seem to now be.
This proposal and future proposals, therefore, requires those who have the authority to make judgement, to demonstrate the greatest due diligence. Those who are empowered to make decisions have to consider the key values of National Parks, as they are the overseers of a scarce environment and only they, in the end, protect. It has to be, as Sandford pointed out, their responsibility to ensure they properly defend against all actions that conflict between public enjoyment and conservation.
Those with this 'power' need to truly love the Lake District (and all the other rare places in this small country) and not view them as a commodity for political or commercial benefit. They need to know and truly understand these places for their particular beauty and profound rarity. Only they can change the narrative by declining these type of planning applications on grounds it is incompatible within a rare, natural and fragile landscape. A narrative that changes the mindset that naturally defaults to the protection and reverence of these environments. Therefore, conservation and preservation of our beautiful rare landscapes is ‘culturalised’ to be intolerant towards the ‘thrills and spill’ commercial use of its resources.
There needs to be a zero tolerance stance that is clear and robust. Any hesitance from those who have power and influence creates a space for those who seek commercial advantage to develop political pressure that will take advantage of any fissures in our our values and the conservation legislation we lean on. This and all similar proposals need to know the Lakes and other fragile, beautiful,and very rare environments are not compatible for to this commercial ideology. They need to know they should Zip Off.
Zip Off!
I have regularly blogged my concerns about the commodification of the landscape (http://www.iainwoodley.com/commodification) and the increasingly confused, if not diluted, understanding about the purpose and value of rare, wild and fragile landscapes (http://www.iainwoodley.com/what-are-national-parks-for). Once again, and though it seems the planning application has been withdrawn, the recent, very controversial proposal for a thrills and spills Zip wire installation continues to confirm/test my concerns.
The plan was to install a large number of zip wires on the sides of the iconic mountain - Helvellyn, stretching across one of the well known Lakes. In addition, there would be all the typical ancillary features such as car parking and, in this case, a (‘softner’) cycle way around the Lake.
The development, when considering its scale, has received considerable media interest. Attention that has been created due to the tension between the conservation arguments that wish to preserve a rare, fragile area, versus the desire to install a commercial adventure venture that could generate income and limited jobs.
There were big players on both side of the argument. Backing from a large utilities company, local tourist organisations versus National Trust, Friends of the Lake District and local activists. The arguments, both ways, once again, as argued in my previous blogs, demonstrated how the needs of man are placed against the needs of an increasingly rare environment.
You might wonder why I mention all of this as the appplication has been withdrawn. You might suggest that the concerns I have are now irrelevant, old news and not worth any further comment. However, I still believe the threat of this and similar, future proposals are just waiting in the wings as the conflict of interest demonstrated by the varying (influential) groups in this recent application could easily mean something could slip through next time.
Any number of these groups, if their stance changed, due their own political or commercial position, could easily have given this and future proposals the confidence to progress. This could result in tipping the balance between conservation and commercial needs; as result, create a prescedent that would push away the concept and philosophical position of saving and conserving wild landscapes. Something that inevitably allows the slow, incoming tide of commodification that finally converts our national parks into the thrills and spills theme destinations they seem to now be.
This proposal and future proposals, therefore, requires those who have the authority to make judgement, to demonstrate the greatest due diligence. Those who are empowered to make decisions have to consider the key values of National Parks, as they are the overseers of a scarce environment and only they, in the end, protect. It has to be, as Sandford pointed out, their responsibility to ensure they properly defend against all actions that conflict between public enjoyment and conservation.
Those with this 'power' need to truly love the Lake District (and all the other rare places in this small country) and not view them as a commodity for political or commercial benefit. They need to know and truly understand these places for their particular beauty and profound rarity. Only they can change the narrative by declining these type of planning applications on grounds it is incompatible within a rare, natural and fragile landscape. A narrative that changes the mindset that naturally defaults to the protection and reverence of these environments. Therefore, conservation and preservation of our beautiful rare landscapes is ‘culturalised’ to be intolerant towards the ‘thrills and spill’ commercial use of its resources.
There needs to be a zero tolerance stance that is clear and robust. Any hesitance from those who have power and influence creates a space for those who seek commercial advantage to develop political pressure that will take advantage of any fissures in our our values and the conservation legislation we lean on. This and all similar proposals need to know the Lakes and other fragile, beautiful,and very rare environments are not compatible for to this commercial ideology. They need to know they should Zip Off.