PLANS for a new outdoor adventure centre on the edge of York could be on the ropes after the scheme was suddenly mothballed.

A North Yorkshire firm which specialises in creating extreme rope courses had hoped to open a facility on the outskirts of the city, with the aim of drawing in 20,000 visitors each year.

But now Bedale-based Aerial Extreme has withdrawn the planning application for the scheme it handed in to City of York Council in September – and has not confirmed whether it will resurrect the project.

The decision comes after the proposals for the course at Clifton Moor Gate, close to York’s outer ring road, came under fire from community leaders, who said it would lead to traffic problems and could harm the local environment.

Aerial Extreme’s original design was for a 36-obstacle course, with a range of rope challenges placed between three and seven metres above the ground which could be used by children as young as six, and said that, if the plans were approved, the facility could create 16 full and part-time jobs.

It already has similar courses in the UK and chose York as the location for a potential new venture due to its status as a “renowned UK destination”.

A spokeswoman declined to comment on the reasons for withdrawing the application and would not say whether it would be resubmitted at a later date.

During the consultation period which followed the unveiling of Aerial Extreme’s plans, Wigginton Parish Council raised a formal objection, saying access to the site from the B1363 was “inadequate” and adding: “The height of the planned equipment would be visually intrusive.”

Mick Yates, the council’s highway development officer, said: “This proposed development appears to be designed to attract predominantly car-borne visitors, and therefore it may be considered to have somewhat dubious sustainability credentials.”