Honister Slate Mine's controversial proposal for the construction of a 1200m zip wire on Fleetwith Fell will be considered by the Lake District National Park Authority's Development Control Committee on 7th September.

Landscape charity Friends of the Lake District, along with hundreds of members of the public and many organizations, has opposed the scheme since it was initially proposed in 2010. The proposed site is on one of the most environmentally sensitive areas of the National Park, an area containing wildlife habitats so valuable it has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation - a designation of European significance.

Friends' Planning Officer Richard Pearse explained: 'This is a line in the sand proposal in our view. A recreational development of this scale has never before been allowed upon a remote fell such as this. It has implications for the entire ethos of the National Park. We have major concerns over the impact it would have upon the landscape and general character of the area, and the precedent it would set. There are potentially significant implications for rare wildlife habitats, and the recreational experience of walkers and climbers who use the area currently.'

The proposal has received national media coverage, and has polarised opinions locally, generating support from economic development bodies such as Cumbria Tourism, but objection from environmental and amenity groups including the British Mountaineering Council, Campaign for National Parks, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, the Fell and Rock Climbing Club of the Lake District, the Open Spaces Society and the Ramblers Association. Natural England, the Government's statutory advisor on wildlife and landscape, has also objected to the proposal.

In a separate case, Natural England recently brought proceedings under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 against Honister Slate Mine in regard to unauthorised recreational activities likely to damage Honister Crag Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The Slate Mine was subsequently fined for the damage caused. Natural England has concerns that the zip wire proposal will generate further damage to the SSSI.

The Lake District National Park Authority Planning Officer's recommendation has not yet been made public. Whether the recommendation is supportive or not however, the proposal is guaranteed to generate heated debate on Wednesday 7 September. Friends of the Lake District will be speaking to members at the meeting, alongside other objectors, and supporters of the scheme.

• The area in which the zip wire would be sited is internationally renowned for its tranquillity, and outstanding undeveloped landscape of high fells and enclosed valleys and lakes. It is therefore highly sensitive to inappropriate development. The area reflects virtually all of the Special Qualities of the Lake District National Park, as defined by the Park Authority's own Management Plan. (The Environment Act 1995 requires National Park Authorities to promote opportunities for the 'understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the National Parks'. The Special Qualities of the Lake District have been identified by the Lake District National Park Authority as being: Complex Geology, Diverse Landscape, Concentration of Common Land, Unique Mosaic of Lakes, Tarns and Rivers, Wealth of Habitats and Wildlife, Extensive Semi-Natural Woodlands, History of Tourism and Outdoor Activities, Opportunities for Quiet Enjoyment, Open Nature of the Fells, Rich Archaeology, Distinctive Settlement Character, Celebrated Social and Cultural Heritage).

• The proposed zip wire would introduce an entirely new form of land use - a high speed, recreational activity, reliant upon fixed, man-made infrastructure, which is not sympathetic to the defining characteristics of the area.

• The impact of the zip wire and its users would be significant. It would be located very close to walkers using the popular path to Haystacks from the slate mine car park, who would be particularly badly affected by the noise generated by both the users of the zip wire, and the proposed 'Powerfan' arrester unit, to stop people at the bottom.

• While we appreciate the need to support the local economy, this should not be at the expense of an internationally valued environment, which is the reason why millions of people visit each year.

• We must consider not only the impact of the development itself if it were approved, but also the precedent this would set for future development in the area.

• Fleetwith Fell is a valuable wildlife habitat, and is covered by national (SSSI) and European (SAC) designations. Honister Slate Mine has already pleaded guilty to unauthorised recreational activities likely to damage the wildlife interests at the site, giving rise to concerns that this proposal would generate further damage.

• Fleetwith Fell is designated Open Access Land. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act seeks to enable free access for all upon all such land, and seeks to prevent commercial activity in such areas.