24 December 2019
Vice Chair of the Mousehold Heath Conservators, Councillor Ben Price, has set his sights on installing a zip wire to carry adventurous passengers into the very heart of Norwich from a spot near Gurney Road, on Mousehold Heath.
Inspired by zip wire experiences introduced in Welsh quarries and at the Eden Project, Councillor Price believes that Norwich would benefit from a similar attraction. He said:
“A zip-wire running right over the heath, from Mousehold Lane into the centre of Norwich, possibly landing somewhere near Cow Tower, would offer the very best views in the county which would appeal to local people and visitors. A zip-wire would be a low-impact, exciting attraction which would create a new way of seeing the city and boost Norwich’s economy at the same time.”
Councillor Price has been working on the Mousehold Heath Management Plan which offers a vision for the next ten years and he is keen to see the heath given more recognition. He commented:
“As a gardener and a father, I want to see the heath maintained for future generations, with its biodiversity enhanced and families able to spend time there, getting closer to the natural world and experiencing the joys of being in the open air. I’m pleased that the new Young Wardens scheme will be bringing some young people to work on the heath. I know that they will grow to love it and want to protect it for the future.
“With an unpredictable economy, we also need to create new income streams for the city. The city council is currently walking a high wire, trying to balance budgets as less funding comes from central government. A zip wire into the city would encourage many more visitors and boost our local economy, generating much-needed income as well as encouraging appreciation of the beautiful lung of Norwich that is Mousehold Heath.”
