Work to begin on Go Ape! in Itchen Valley Country Park in West End

Civic chiefs say high-wire specialists Go Ape will start their installation at the Itchen Valley Country Park in November – and it could be open for business by Easter.

Improvements to the car park are also set to begin next month after final details for the new attraction were ironed out.

Full planning permission for the scheme was given in July this year – despite opposition from a number of residents as well as the Friends of Itchen Valley Country Park.

At a meeting of Eastleigh Borough Council, the Cabinet member for leisure said the scheme would soon be under way.

Councillor Alan Broadhurst said: “Since planning permission was issued, work has been going on to finalise details of the car park and the course itself.

Preparation of a contract for the car park improvements is under way and construction of the car parks and the course is expected to begin next month and open to the public by Easter 2011.”

After July’s decision, the owner of Lower Itchen Fisheries, Lyndsey Farmiloe, said she would meet with solicitors to discuss the possibility of putting the decision in front of a judge for a judicial review. However, no action has since been taken.

She said last night: “We are still in disbelief that they decided to give this the go-ahead. It is the wrong area for this type of attraction.”

Ben Davies, business development manager for Go Ape, has always maintained the scheme will create jobs and that they would work with council bosses to ensure the park “continues to be a beautiful and popular destination.”