Zip wire 'would ruin look' of Bournemouth Pier

1:00pm Tuesday 15th January 2013 in News By Melanie Vass

PROPOSAL: Artist’s impression of how the zipwire and high ropes course would look at Bournemouth Pier PROPOSAL: Artist’s impression of how the zipwire and high ropes course would look at Bournemouth Pier

A HIGH ropes course and zipwire proposed for Bournemouth Pier could ruin the appearance of the iconic structure, it has been claimed.

Plans to liven up the pier with three adventurous new attractions are set to be refused, amid fears they would be “incongruous and unsympathetic” to their surroundings.

Pier operators Openwide International is seeking permission to install a standing surf wave ride on the end of the pier, a nautical-themed high ropes course and a zipline attraction that will launch riders from the pier across the sea to the beach.

It says it desperately needs to entice more people to pay the council-imposed toll fee and venture up the pier. Numerous other options – including a big wheel and a tower – have been ruled out because of the height restrictions put in place for the air festival.

But while planning officers have no problem with the surf wave, they are unhappy with the zip wire and the high ropes course part of the plan.

Their report states: “It is considered that the high ropes course and zipwire structures together would have a detrimental impact on the design and appearance of Bournemouth Pier, which although not a designated or recognised heritage asset, is a prominent and somewhat iconic structure which is important to the appearance and image of the town centre.”

And Mark Smith, the council’s director of tourism, said: “Undoubtedly there is a demand for this type of facility somewhere in Bournemouth and the pier already includes other leisure facilities, also the high visibility of this location would help improve the commercial viability of the project.

“I do not believe that the proposals as currently designed would provide a net benefit to the general aspect of the bay and the iconic pier.”

Rory Holburn, director of Openwide, declined to comment until after the planning meeting on Monday, January 21.

Comments(12)

jeebuscripes says...
1:12pm Tue 15 Jan 13

I'm not a grammar or spelling pedant normally but there are always mistakes on this website.

Doesn't anyone proof read this stuff?

I'm referring to the title of the article.

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sarahinpoole says...
1:14pm Tue 15 Jan 13

I never pay to go on the pier so new attractions would not entice me

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bmthtony says...
1:46pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Surely they would also have to block off part of the beach for landing and for "safety zone", can't see it working myself!

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Baywolf says...
3:14pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Is this the big attraction for the pier that was always talked about but never came to see the light of day...I mean a zip wire of all things nearly as insane as a butterfly farm..wake up councillors and look at crowd grabbing attractions in other beach resorts..oh and they don't have surf reefs either I wonder why?

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bbird says...
3:47pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Decent cafes, restaurants, and no entrance charge (voluntary donations at exit). Something special for kids (weekend & holiday "Punch & Judy theatre"?). What about 'street performers' and a market for local artists? The pier is a landmark which attracts visitors to Bournemouth, make it special, not cheap and nasty. Zip wire no no no.

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muscliffman says...
3:54pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Ooops, the kiddie painting 'artists' impression suggesting 'wires' at least a metre wide above the Pier comes back to haunt.

Is there a reader here who is in the least interested in the current surf reef afflicted Director of Tourism's opinion about this or indeed anything, why bother quoting it?

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BmthNewshound says...
4:20pm Tue 15 Jan 13

I can see the pier becoming another Imax with the taxpayer being forced to buy back the lease as Openwide struggle to make money.
.
The pier was not built to generate mega-bucks for a private business and it should never have been handed to Openwide in the first place.

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jobsworthwatch says...
4:27pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Zip Wire...how long did it take them to think of that!
Demolish the pier and replace it with a cob. Dig out pier Approach, remove the flyover, let the sea flood the lower gardens and turn it into a marina.

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muscliffman says...
7:14pm Tue 15 Jan 13

jobsworthwatch wrote:
Zip Wire...how long did it take them to think of that!
Demolish the pier and replace it with a cob. Dig out pier Approach, remove the flyover, let the sea flood the lower gardens and turn it into a marina.
Steady. You are going to give them ideas!

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Yankee1 says...
10:57pm Tue 15 Jan 13

The word 'iconic' is grossly abused.

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Yankee1 says...
10:58pm Tue 15 Jan 13

muscliffman wrote:
Ooops, the kiddie painting 'artists' impression suggesting 'wires' at least a metre wide above the Pier comes back to haunt.

Is there a reader here who is in the least interested in the current surf reef afflicted Director of Tourism's opinion about this or indeed anything, why bother quoting it?
Surf reef? There is a surf reef???!!!!!!

Is it 'iconic', too????

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bournemouth lover says...
5:26pm Sat 19 Jan 13

Take a trip to southwold pier and take notes. Would be ideal to see bournemouth pier looking so lovely and well used. They have it just right in suffolk.

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