Hatton wants to add more thrills

Hatton Adventure World is about to re-submit a planning application to build one of the country’s highest slides - measuring 12.5 metres - or more than 40 feet.

In February Warwick District Council rejected the application for a £100,000 plus slide complex made on behalf of Johnnie Arkwright, who owns the farm park and shopping village on the edge of Warwick.

Mr Arkwright’s agents told planners that visitors to the shopping village had declined in recent years and they wanted to boost attractions on the farm and adventure park to keep the rural businesses vibrant.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The giant slide is intended to add to the £70,000 new laser combat game that opened this Easter.

But district councillors said the slide, comprising steps set into a grassy mound, platform decking and two tubes, was too tall and would be intrusive in the Green Belt.

Last month further discussions were held with planning officers and an amended application is set to be submitted within the next few weeks.

The changes involve several feet of the slide being sunk lower down into the ground to reduce its overall height.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A spokesman on behalf of Mr Arkwright said: “The giant slide is a key element of our plans for the future. We are about to re-submit a modified application following discussions with planning officers.”

He added: “Early indications are that the refurbishments we undertook last year and the arrival of new traders like the Edinburgh Woollen Mill and Brantano in our shopping village have arrested the decline in visitor numbers. Now the laser game in Adventure World looks set to continue that trend.”

Hatton Country World - as it used to be called - first opened its doors in 1982 and over the years the original mix of craft outlets in the free shopping village has grown to include antiques, a garden centre and a range of clothing outlets which sit alongside the separate Adventure Park to which visitors pay admission.