MORE than 2,000 people have responded to activity hub proposals that would see two 1,200m zip wires running over Thirlmere.

Treetop Trek announced its ambitions to develop an activity hub in the forest around the lake, including a new 18km cycleway.

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The company, which has a treetop adventure in Windermere, is consulting over the plans ahead of an application being submitted to the Lake District National Park Authority.

As part of the consultation period, an event was held at Swirls Car Park, Thirlmere last week.

Although Friends of the Lake District has spoken in favour of the cycle way, the group is concerned about the zip wire and planning officer Laura Fiske and chief executive Douglas Chalmers both attended the consultation event.

"We met with the applicant and discussed the proposals in greater detail," Ms Fiske said. "However, our concerns remain and we consider that this proposal will have detrimental impacts upon the landscape character, visual amenity and tranquillity of the Thirlmere Valley.

"We are also concerned regarding the precedent for inappropriate development this would set across the National Park."

And comments on the Thirlmere Activity Hub Facebook page have been mixed.

Phil Laws wrote: "Yes the Lake District is for everyone but that doesn't mean it should be turned into a theme park, there are plenty of places to go if you want that kind of entertainment, people come to the Lakes for the beautiful scenery and peaceful atmosphere not to go to Alton Towers, if you want to change the Lakes you are coming here for the wrong reasons."

However, there have also been a number of supportive comments, with ?David Fairs writing: ?"What a great idea. The Lake District certainly need more of these activities."

Mike Turner, managing director of Treetop Trek Ltd said that discussion was 'still very much ongoing.

"The response to our month-long pre-planning consultation process has been brilliant and so far over 2000 people have taken the time to offer their views," he said. "Discussion is still very much ongoing and we welcome the continuing input and opinions, both for and against. When the consultation process has concluded we will collate the results and these will be shared along with our responses and actions to hopefully appease any remaining concerns."