GoApe. Sailing under a flag of convenience?
Mar 30th, 2009 by philjay
Now that GoApe are up and running I have had an opportunity this weekend to observe what impact it has on the immediate environment. In an attempt to be impartial I have to say that all who were taking part appeared to be enjoying themselves, (well you would if you’d just paid £20/£25),(sorry that wasn’t impartial). What I did notice was the number of people on the ground accompanying those in the trees, moreover the volume of communication ground to air as well as air to air, certainly less than the tranquil area that I have been used to. That said, what does concern me is that I have noticed a statement by GoApe that they support GCO, who? Global Canopy Organisation. www.globalcanopy.org This is an international organisation whom GoApe have asked to design a series of educational and informative boards to display around there sites. Now forgive me for maybe being over critical, but an organisation whose recent initiative is titled Forest Now Campaign and ‘quote’ we are raising awareness of the need to reduce deforestation if we are to make the necessary cuts in greenhouse gas emission to mitigate climate change. Call me a cynic, but how can an organisation with that ethos accept support from a company who chooses to cut down mature woodland trees in order to accommodate a for profits activity. Make up your own minds by visiting their web site, but I think it’s hypocrisy by GoApe who are obviously pulling the wool over there customers eyes, by sailing under a flag of convenience.
I have to agree with you Phil regarding the signs -I couldn`t believe the hypocrisy after they have felled mature trees it would be laughable if it wasn`t so tragic.
We went down last saturday afternoon and took our 8 year old with us and the language we heard was truly awful,swearing loudly, screaming and the zip wire noise was very loud.As you said the people were enjoying themselves unlike us who felt like intruders despite the fact that we walk there most weekends.
From what I saw the course looks cheap and sparse and it doesn`t blend in and the environment is far removed from tranquil as quoted in the Bolton News.
I doubt we will be going down that part of Lever Park again ,It is very frustrating to say the least.
I can understand Diane’s frustration at the changes but I hope that she and everyone else who usually walk there continue to do so. Why, because United Utilities, Chorley Borough Council and Go-Ape will have won if they don’t. We must carry on as normal. We walkers have enjoyed the wood for many years and if there is bad behaviour, we should complain. If there is bad language, we should complain. In fact if anything unacceptable happens, we should complain. It is they that have to put up with us, not the other way around. We all have to be aware of what is happening now that Go-Ape has opened and that means being there to see it for ourselves. Only in that way can we be effective “Friends of Lever Park”.
I agree with ever thing that Has been said.I went up on Friday and was appalled at what i saw.Like you said screaming shouting,the noise of the zip wire.They have turned the area into a Ghetto.I wonder if Jane Meek has visited?I doubt it very much.As Anne Holroyd said,the temptation is to stay away, as it is so distressing to witness.I used to walk up to that part of Rivington at least three times a week.Now I hardly go at all.Ann jones is right,we should still go and complain if we see unacceptable behavior.Why,Why Why was this appalling scheme ever have been allowed to go ahead?Where are all these people who are supposed to protect the countryside.This could and should have been stopped if we had got more support from relevent bodies.
George Orwell called it ‘doublethink’ in 1984. He said it was “The power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them”
So on the one hand: Go Ape’s marketing makes us believe that Go Ape is an ecologically sound, ethical company protecting the trees and stopping global deforestation and climate change.
And on the other hand: they grub up plants, scare off the wildlife, destroy the peace of the countryside, ride roughshod over the planning regs, fell trees and knock 5 inch nails into the rest of them.
To add to Davids comments….. and all with the blessing of Chorley council.
I feel we can complain until the cows come home, but no one will listen. We have protested and that did no good. We have complained to our MPs, Chorley Borough Council, United Utilites and other bodies, all of them have ignored us.
They are all fully aware that Go-Ape, have been given this planning permission unfairly and no one who has any clout, is prepared to do anything about it. The same people have watched the destruction of this woodland take place and they know that Lord Lever’s wishes have been violated and never intervened.
I have my own theory as to why they are not doing anything about it and although I cannot say on this board what I think the reason is, I will definately show my disapproval of this Labour Government at the next General Election.
All I will say is, I hope the people who run Chorley Borough Council, United Utilities, Lindsay Hoyle and the councillors who made excuses for not getting involved, can sleep easy in their beds at night.
Although no doubt they will, because these people have proved by their actions, that they have no regard for anything and anyone.
The people who mke these decisions probably never set foot in Rivington so why should they care?The people who have been going to Rivington for many years do not matter.All U.U.want are people who are prepared to spend huge sums of money.They don`t care about ordinary decent people who go to see the natural beauty of Rivington.There should be a public enquiry into how this develepment ever got passed the way it did,and how Go Ape got away with flouting the planning laws.I suggest local councils and M.Ps all get together and see what can be done.