High hopes for £250k rope adventure park

Plans have been unveiled for an adventure park in West Bromwich's Sandwell Valley at a cost of £250,000, the Express & Star can reveal.

Plans for the attraction, an assault course high above the ground featuring a zip wire, have now been submitted by Sandwell Council.

It will be run by a private operator. Funds for the project will come from Government funds to improve play facilities for children nationwide. Proposals also include a climbing activity tower as well as zip wire.

It will be the borough's largest outdoor adventure playground and aimed at youngsters aged between five and 13.

A letter on Sandwell Council's planning website states the proposals include climbing nets, a 164ft zip wire, a suspension bridge, a play tractor and trailer and some timber sculptures.

It will be located on the paddock on the left hand side as visitors travel down the main Salters Lane entrance to the country park.

Councillor Bob Badham said: "We are looking forward to the new adventure playground being completed this summer because it will bring a new wide range of activities for the children of the borough.

"This will greatly enhance the play facilities and encourage more families to come to the Sandwell Valley Country Park to enjoy the wider activities."

The adventure playground aspect of the scheme would be free, although it is proposed to charge for the high rope attraction.

The zip wire would follow the successful Go Ape tree adventure facility on Cannock Chase that last year celebrated its two millionth customer.

High rope adventure courses are also popular at Baggeridge Country Park near Sedgley, where the course is 40-feet high and features a zip wire, trapeze and giant's ladder.

And visitors can climb trees, slide across high wires, crawl through tunnels, cross rope bridges, walk the plank and zip slide down to the ground at the Go Ape High Wire Forest Adventure, in the Wyre Forest.

Sandwell Valley's RSPB reserve has already benefited from a £120,000 revamp. That included a new pond in the wildlife garden, paths, flower borders and seating areas.