I would really take issue with all points regarding the refusal of the planning application of the c/w cable at WM Ski. First of all cable wakeboarding is certainly not an “elitist” sport, maybe boat wakeboarding / waterskiing may be classes as but no more so than, horse riding, for example and no one seems to refuse a planning application for that.
Secondly regarding noise etc, the cable running rig is almost silent, a little music from the speakers on the dock and sounds of encouragement as someone tries and lands (or fails) a new trick or invert is hardly intrusive. An example of this is Box End Park has a reasonably upmarket restaurant situated on the bank cable lake and the encouragement and subsequent carnage on the adjacent fun box often is the talking point to diners and drinkers who had never even heard of wakeboarding, indeed some often return the following week with their kids or grandkids to give it a go.
Sheffield cable in Rother Valley often has more non-riders than riders on the seating areas by the dock drinking coffee, enjoying a snack or even a pint in the good weather days and everyone enjoys it, it always creates a talking point and again, creates more interest and ultimately more “i wanna give it a go” The same point can be said about WakeMK at Willen lake. And probably every other cable in the country (would comment on the rest but only been to WM Ski once; Thorpe once and never been to the rest)
Regards the positive impact on my life, I only discovered the joys of the cable tow as a chance google search 2 years ago found Sheffield Cable, getting towards 30 i was finding myself a little stuck in the rut, spending half the weekends in the pub and generally not doing much with my life. Now I ride every week at either Sheffield and Box End cables along with boat work less often – prob only a set a month or so. This is great exercise, I have lost loads of weight and due to the social environment, I have met some of the best people in the world through the sport. I just wish I had discovered it 15 years ago.
Sorry if this is a little long but some things need to be said. With the right arguments and education we must be able to overturn the council’s decision.
Good luck guys
Paul
|