Soapbox

Yes, it was very sad. I'm sure he wasn't easy to live with and he didn't necessarily do himself any favours with the park authorities, etc, but I think he had some admirable qualities as does his widow. I could certainly see both sides of it. OH did the mine tour with him a couple of years back and took to him.

Documentary was the first in a series I think. There's one on tonight (Peak District this time). Probably going to be good stuff for shouting at the telly, anyway, if the first one was anything to go by! 

Yes a sad loss..

The program about the Zip wire is on BBC Iplayer here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b016dr0x/Tales_from_the_National_Parks_The_Lake_District/

But I really dont understand those who posted that they objected without understanding the issue..

It's a working mine ... the zip wire will bring money into the area..

I had to laugh at the eco environment woman who inspected the wire walk going on about the damage it was causing.."this soil has been here since the last ice age ..."

Only to be corrected and informed that the apparent ASSI was located on the quarry site ledges that had been carved out less than 200 years ago as part of the slate mine workings..

The same woman who went on about damage to the rare plants then PICKED ONE ON CAMERA....

Also the mine had, when working fully, a large steam driven overhead cable running spoil buckets up and down the valley from large support towers and wheels.. and a steam train...

The zip wire would not have been any huge impact to the park as a whole and in the context of being in the working mine valley area even less..

Far less impact that long pavements of helicoptered in stone providing paths to the remote areas for walkers... or long lines and sometimes ques of walkers at the honey pot areas..