What do people think of slate mine zip wire plan?
Getty ImagesPlans for a half mile-long (1km) zip wire in the Lake District have been approved. What do residents and visitors think of the scheme?
Honister Slate Mine is described as the oldest working slate mine in England and has been the source of roof slate for both Kensington and Buckingham Palace.
It is also a tourist attraction and can now progress on its long-talked about plan to install a zip wire, after the scheme was given the go-ahead on Wednesday.
Those in favour say it will bring people to the area, those opposed say it could blight the beauty and there are too many visitors already.
Resident David Jackson is very much in the first camp.
Mr Jackson, who has lived in the area his whole life, said he thought the zip wire was necessary to "bring people back" to Honister.
"You've got to look at new ideas," he said, adding: "We've lost a local hotel just down the road with a pub.
"You're losing a lot of things out of the area, so anything new is going to bring people back."
When the zip wire is not in use by visitors, it will transport slate down to the workshop.
The Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) added conditions to the application, which stated the infrastructure should be removed if it was no longer required and that the zip wire could only be used between 08:00 and 18:30.
Resident Helen Bell said she was "a total fan", adding: "It adds something, it'll bring more people to the area. The Lakes should be an evolving area.
"As long as it's not actually going to damage the environment, I'm all for it."
But not everyone believed the zip wire would positively impact the area.
Mike Butler said it would affect parking, the amount of traffic and lead to it being "more crowded in the summertime".
"I don't think we need more people to the Lake District," he said, adding: "I think we've got quite enough already."
Olwen Harrison said she did not think it added to "the beauty of the Lake District".
LDNPA member Jim Jackson said: "To allow our businesses to sustain, grow and flourish we need to allow them to continue to evolve."
The plans faced objections from Buttermere Parish Council and Friends of the Lake District.
The latter said despite some clarifications by the applicant, the proposal "nevertheless remains of concern primarily due to conflicts with the statutory purpose of National Parks" and local and national planning policy.