Park may have to take down ride

West Midland Safari Park could face a row over its hair-raising Venom Tower Drop ride which was built without planning permission.

Now they have asked the council for retrospective planning permission for the erection of the tower drop amusement ride, constructed in 2006.

If planning permission is refused, park bosses have the option of an appeal but could ultimately face enforcement action and even be asked to take down the ride.

The hair-raising ride, cost £500,000 to build three years ago. During the past two years the park's bosses have been trying to bring themselves in line with planning laws as some of the rides in the grounds were built without planning permission as far back as the 1960s.

Last year the park was fined £7,500 and ordered to pay £12,000 costs to Wyre Forest District Council for felling trees to clear the way for the White River Rafting Water Ride in 1960.

Park bosses admitted destroying five trees which were subject to Preservation Orders.

Mr John Baggott, planning development manager for Wyre Forest District Council, confirmed today that a retrospective application had been received.

He said that the application would probably be discussed by members of the council's planning development committee at a meeting in May as the documentation had only just been received.

Mr Baggott added: "We have not been made aware of any complaints about the ride being made."

The hair-raising ride is more than six times taller than a giraffe and is the tallest ride in the park at Bewdley. Thrill seekers are winched to the top of a 32-metre tower for a nail-biting 10 to 15 seconds, before they are catapulted down to the ground.