Just saw this, and rather surprised to see that the deadline for feedback is 15th October (this Monday!).

We've had a few people contacting us about this now. We'll be asking the council questions about it and doing a story in the next edition of G41.
David Eyre
G41 Editor

Hello folks:
We received the response below from the city council in relation to the Go Ape development. It's too long to put in the paper in full, but gives good background, so we thought it would be a good idea to put it on the website.

You can get more information about the consultation here: http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/Parks_Outdoors/goapeconsulation.h...
Comments about any planning applications can be emailed to: regeneration@glasgow.gov.uk
There will be more on this in the December edition of G41, which hits the streets on Friday 30 November.
Thanks!
David Eyre
G41 Editor

Glasgow's parks and open spaces Best Value Review involved widespread consultation with the public about what types of facilities they want in their parks.
A need for more diverse activities to be offered to all park users, including our young people, was identified. To meet this demand the council advertised for a woodland activity provider for Pollok Park. Go Ape was one of the respondents.
The advert was placed on 23/3/06 inviting applications for the Design, Installation and Operation of an Aerial Assault Course.
No additional vehicles will be allowed into the woodland area as a result of this development. Visitors to Go Ape will park in the main car park sited adjacent to the Burrell Collection. The Go Ape circuit takes a maximum of 14 people every half hour, which in practice usually means 3 or 4 cars at the car park per half hour during peak times. This will have minimal impact to the large car park at the Burrell which is under-utilised approximately 95% of the week. No additional car parking will be created as a result of this proposal.
As mentioned before the Parks and Open Spaces Review identified a public demand for more diverse activities in parks. The benefits of such a scheme are to keep people fit and healthy and offer our young people diversionary activities that steer them away from anti-social behaviour. The pricing structure has been set to ensure that the Go Ape facility is self sustaining and commercially viable. Glasgow City Council has negotiated 450 free child places each year for local school children. The company has also indicated that they would be willing to offer discounts to a wide range of groups within the community as is the practice in their other sites throughout the UK.
The nearest Go Ape site, based in Aberfoyle, regularly offer promotions, such as, 'Buy one - get one free' type offers and I am sure that similar incentives will be available also at Pollok.
The proposed development will not result in the 'handing over' of any of the parkland within Pollok Country Park. The proposal is for a lease,` and the vast majority of the proposed high wire circuit involves occupying space, above ground, in the tree canopy. Access throughout the existing woodland remains uninterrupted. I can further advise that great care is placed on ensuring that the park is kept in good order and to very high standards of maintenance - standards that recently earned it a 'Best Park in Britain' award.
Nothing has been signed. The proposal in principle was agreed by the Council's Executive Committee.The planning application has now been lodged with the council by Go Ape and the statutory planning process will now be undertaken. Any representations/views on planning grounds would be heard then.
The consultation for the proposed Go Ape development was undertaken following an initial briefing of Local Elected Members of various political parties. This was followed by a consultation event which was held in the Burrell Collection Auditorium on Saturday 1 September 2007. This event was widely publicised within the local community through a poster campaign which appeared in all local community facilities and supermarkets within an approximate 2 mile radius of the park.
In addition a direct mailing of invitees was undertaken of local groups, organisations and individuals with an interest or association with Pollok Country Park. This included local community councils.
The event attracted a wide range of individuals from the local community and representatives from organisations including:-
* Sir John Stirling Maxwell Allotments
* Pollokshields Heritage
* Strathclyde Police Recreation Association
* Glasgow Tree Lover's Society
* Pollokshaws People's Forum
* Greater Pollok, Newlands & Auldburn Community Planning Partnership
* Glasgow Archeological Society
* Pollok Country Park - Over 50s Club
* Pollokshaws & Eastwood Community Council
* Carts Greenspace
* Strathclyde Police Community Safety Division
* Dumbreck Riding School
In addition to the above, the consultation remained open for a 6-week period from Saturday 1 September until Monday 15 October 2007. A web page was set up on the GCC website with links placed in various points including the Parks, Land Services and Glasgow City Council home pages.
The majority of responses were received by email. However we continued to consider responses received, both by email and post until Monday 22nd October to ensure that responses which may have been caught up in the post during the postal strike were gathered.