Ministers opt out of Go Ape plan

Campaigners said they would now consider a legal challenge

The Scottish Government will not intervene in the decision over plans for a controversial tree-top adventure course in Glasgow's Pollok Park.

A spokesman said ministers would not issue any restriction or call in the plan "for their own determination".

Glasgow City Council, which previously passed the application in the face of strong opposition, will now have the final say.

Campaigners said they would now look at mounting a legal challenge.

The Go Ape development would see elevated platforms and zip slides in woods near the Burrell Collection.

The scheme was referred to Scottish ministers because the council has a financial interest in the venture.

We're going to seriously consider a legal challenge to the council's right to grant a lease in Pollok Park Bill Fraser Save Pollok Park

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "Having considered this matter, it is not ministers' intention to intervene in this application by either issuing a direction restricting the granting of planning permission or by calling in the application for their own determination.

"The council has been authorised deal with the application in the manner it thinks fit."

Bill Fraser, spokesman for Save Pollok Park, said the group would now consider mounting a legal challenge.

He said: "We're extremely disappointed by the decision. We're going to seriously consider a legal challenge to the council's right to grant a lease in Pollok Park."

Mr Fraser said he believed the council did not have the ability to grant a lease.

'Consultation sham'

The Scottish Green Party branded the decision by the Scottish Givernment "disgraceful".

Glasgow MSP, Patrick Harvie, said: "This will anger the thousands of people who want to protect Pollok Park.

"The city council's consultation was a sham, the response from park users has been a clear rejection of the proposal, and for Scottish ministers to pass the buck now is appalling.

"Go Ape is no doubt a fun facility, but the north wood of Pollok Park is an utterly inappropriate place for it, and if the Scottish Government refuses to protect this oasis of calm in the heart of Glasgow's south side, they should be ashamed of themselves."

Glasgow City Council said it would issue a response to the government's decision in due course.