Comments on: Wildlife Sanctuary

By: Ann Jones

Ann Jones — Fri, 08 May 2009 18:58:36 +0000

I can understand why some people are enthusiastic about the advent of Go-Ape at Lever Park and why they think the Friends of Lever Park are against them. But can I say yet again (and as Bob Dootson has said many times) the argument is not with Go-Ape but with United Utilities for ignoring the 1902 Liverpool Corporation Act and Chorley Borough Council for approving the application using delegated powers and thus without consultation.
The trespass by Go-Ape customers into the wildlife sanctuary area while staff laughed and joked with them is a separate issue and is quite rightly laid at Go-Ape’s door. I emailed Paul Brady, the Manager of Go-Ape at Rivington regarding this incident expressing my concern and received a quick response in which he said “Thank you for bringing this to my attention as I was unaware of the incident. I have reaffirmed to all my staff the importance of their behaviour and actions when on duty. Also the control of our customers when on our site.” I have no reason to doubt his good intentions. Nor do I doubt that Go-Ape is a successful and popular commercial operation. But sadly as far as I am concerned it is sited in an inappropriate place. As a result this small woodland which has been enjoyed and loved for years by many has been irrevocably damaged. I’m sorry Go-Ape fans but zipping from tree to tree in a harness, although a buzz for some, is not the way to preserve our increasingly fragile environment.

By: bobdootson

bobdootson — Thu, 07 May 2009 22:22:26 +0000

David.
I think that everything is becoming rather ridiculous, that to even think that the FLP could demand anything of a company the size of UU.
We could request consideration, but demands will get no-where.
The FLP have recently had two meetings with Mr Martin Padley of United Utilities, and believe me he is not the sort of person that would bend to demands.
He has made himself available to suggestions, and has taken onboard comments made by myself and other members of the FLP.
Whether this is just a PR exercise, or UU are sincere about better working relations only time will tell.
As for Wallace and Gromit, if they are so concerned about the good of Lever Park, Go-Ape and any other issue they wish to mention, then please come to our next meeting and put your suggestions to the table and lets make progress that way.
Tit for Tat over the internet will not solve anything, the meetings of the FLP are open to every-one so please feel free to attend.
P.S. will I have to leave 2 drinks on the bar for you or will 1 suffice.

By: David

David — Thu, 07 May 2009 21:41:52 +0000

Wallace raises some good points (in amongst some red herrings).

Go Ape is certainly going to be a fixture in the park for some time to come. In the meantime we do have to make it work in our favour.

UU will be taking a raft of money in rental from Go Ape. Should we not be demanding that some of the money is spent for the good of the park, not creamed off to spend on shareholder dividends?

How do we want the rest of the park to develop? Wallace says we want to preseve the park in aspic. We don’t, but we do want to protect it from commercialisation and, where possible, make it even better.

How about:

a better visitor centre?
improved toilets?
better wildllide protection?
a wildlife survey so we know exactly what wldlife is in the park?
legal protection to prevent further commercialisation?
footpath improvements?

By: bobdootson

bobdootson — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:42:46 +0000

Wallace, you obviously don’t have a clue as to what has gone on, and what is happening at this moment in time.
Shall we start by taking 10 tree’s without planning permission, then followed by breaching planning conditions which required the planning authorities to issue notices (plural)to remove the issues in breach.
Before you put pen to paper, we suggest that you get your facts correct.
If our concerns were not correct, then the planninig authorities would NOT have issued notices of breach.

By: Eileen Thomasson

Eileen Thomasson — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:37:35 +0000

Middle Class? I wish!

By: Wallace

Wallace — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:24:43 +0000

While I am here I take great offence to the snobbish attitude of Eileen (above) with the description of the general public as Scum! Surely the park is there for all no matter what Age sex Creed they are. Everyone should be encouraged to access the out doors. Lever park is not there for the sole use of the middle class dog walking locals! Comments like that weaken any argument you have and endanger this group of becoming a laughing stock. Continued petty griping and unsubstatiated rumour will only remove any credibility you may have as a negotiating body. Grow up!

By: Wallace

Wallace — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:16:24 +0000

The reason there was no problems before Gromit got involved was ther was no one involved in the forum who was actually for the Go Ape developement. It is interesting to see you have not commented on the extra income that must be coming into the area with the extra visitors not to mention the extra employment.

Go ape cannot be in breach of planning conditions or surely the planning office would have stopped the construction or issued notice to remove the areas in breach.

It is impossible to dip an area in aspic and expect it to survive.

Can you not work with the agencies involved to fight for better pathing facilities and local amenities. Surely a direct line to UU and Go ape is the way forward. Would it not make more sense to be ensuring that any revenues generated by Go ape for UU should remain in the park.

I come back to main point above Go ape is now there stop wingeing about the fact and actually try and make it work in your favour. i will be very suprised if you can succeed in getting it removed.

By: bobdootson

bobdootson — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:02:31 +0000

Thanks for your concern WALLACE, your not a double act with GROMIT by any chance.
Please feel free to volunteer your services to Chair a meeting between both parties.
It’s not “The Friends of Lever Park” that have been breaching planning conditions.
There was no mud slinging until Gromit introduced himself.

By: Wallace

Wallace — Wed, 06 May 2009 14:50:01 +0000

It is a bit sad that you have reduced yourselves to mud slinging! Surely you people have more important things to do with your lives. Go ape is now up. Would it not make sense to have a meeting with company concerned and rasie your concerns in a constructive adult way rather than just moaning about it on this forum.

By: bobdootson

bobdootson — Mon, 04 May 2009 22:52:15 +0000

The deliberate spelling mistake was to make idiots like you read the message, and take on board what is really happening within Lever Park.
Cos lets face it Gromit, super individuals like you wouldn’t lower themselves to read anything that was word perfect .
What would be the challenge to that pea brain that is lodged between your ear’s.
If you want to put your superior knowledge to the test why don’t you come to our next meeting and volunteer your services as a mobile dictionary, or better still offer your services to Go-Ape as a urinal carrier then their staff need never be took short.