Hands off Heaton Park

We, the undersigned call on Newcastle City Council to withdraw the proposal to hand a swathe of Heaton Park to a commercial 'high ropes course' operator. We believe that such a facility in the park will destroy its unique character, changing it from a local oasis to a visitor attraction and exclude non-paying local residents from significant areas of their much loved local park

Background: The Labour-run Council is in ongoing discussions about handing over a swathe of Heaton Park to a private company to run as a profit-making 'high ropes course'. The company concerned has controversially taken over part of a park in London for a similar course - tickets there cost between £18.00 and £33.00.

The current draft plans for Heaton Park would run from the north west corner of the park right into the centre. It would incorporate dozens of trees, along with gated entry points, poles and zip wire landing pads. The Council has refused our call for public consultation now, saying the plans will not be published until a planning application is submitted, which will probably be too late to stop it as planning law favours the applicant.

Thank you for your interest but we are no longer running this campaign.