Planning refusal over park ride

A £1 million water ride at West Midland Safari Park, which was branded "a blot on the landscape" by critics, has been refused retrospective planning permission.

The refusal means bosses at the Bewdley attraction, which has more than 500,000 visitors each year, face having to alter it or plant replacement trees.

They now have to decide whether to appeal against the decision.

The Wild River Rafting Leisure Ride was constructed at a cost of more than £1m by the Fabbri Group, from Italy, and opened officially in the summer of 2005.

But it was branded a "blot on the landscape" by councillors because 22 trees had to be felled.

Officials at Wyre Forest District Council claimed the position and height of the ride and encroachment into the countryside, with the loss of the trees, was too great.

The council's planning development control committee refused the application to keep the ride last night.