Park ordered to remove £1m ride

A controversial £1 million water ride put up without planning permission at West Midlands Safari Park is to be torn down after bosses lost an appeal.

A planning inspector has backed Wyre Forest District Council's decision to refuse retrospective approval for the ride - which means bosses at the Bewdley park will have to remove it.

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

But it was branded a "blot on the landscape" by councillors because of the position and height of the ride and encroachment into the countryside which they claimed was "too great".

The council refused retrospective planning permission for the ride in November last year because of harm to the landscape and damage to the green belt.

A planning inspector has now written to say he has upheld the council's decision to refuse permission for the retention of the ride.

Councillor Stephen Clee, of Wyre Forest District Council, said: "The decision shows the council had justifiable reasons for not allowing this kind of development in the Green Belt.

Safari Park bosses were not available for comment.