BeWILDerwood is driven by financial greed (From Knutsford Guardian)

BeWILDerwood is driven by financial greed

10:20am Wednesday 6th June 2012 in Letters

I WOULD like to comment on the letter from Sarah Ganczarski.

I am not surprised that she had a ‘fantastic day out’ at the Norfolk BeWILDerwood Adventure Park, so did my grandchildren.

Nobody doubts that BeWILDerwood can build an excellent facility for children and parents to have a fun day out.

The question is whether Tatton Park is the right place. All the objections are valid, and I will not repeat them since the three Knutsford town councillors made them clear at the recent council meeting, which you report in your current issue on the front page.

What I would like to know is how the planning application, jointly by Cheshire East Council and BeWILDerwood originated.

Norfolk is not exactly on our doorstep and is thinly populated.

Is it the case that BeWILDerwood was looking for a suitable venue with a large catchment area, or did Cheshire East Council, always short of funds, cast about for a scheme which would bring in plenty of visitors and therefore money. Who approached who?

It is becoming clear that the project has been discussed for two years with the National Trust, and the low-key manner in which the public was briefly made aware of it indicates that CEC was conscious of the controversial aspects of the plan.

The BeWILDerwood in Tatton is an irreversible disaster for a unique environment, and it is driven by pure financial greed.

It is also a disgrace that CEC thinks that it is appropriate that it should be the joint applicant and also the planning authority concerned.

There is nothing wrong with the BeWILDerwood concept, but not in Tatton.

By all means build it elsewhere – what about a quiet sand quarry?

H CATE Smith Lane, Mobberley