Giant water slide attraction seeks permission to stay in North Devon field

Plans have been lodged for a Monster Slip and Slide 360-foot water slide attraction to operate in a field near Barnstaple for the summer season.

The temporary change of use application is for Collacott Farm on the Old Bideford Road between Roundswell and Eastleigh and has been lodged with North Devon Council retrospectively.

Minster Slip and Slide Barnstaple is already up and running, offering residents and visitors the opportunity to fly along the horizontal water slide on board inflatable rings or bodyboards.

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According to the Monster slip and Slide North Devon website it opened on July 19 and will be operating seven days a week until August.

Planning documents to North Devon Council say the retrospective proposal seeks to provide a seasonal outdoor leisure facility, offering a safe, fun and active outdoor activity that ‘complements the rural setting of the land while enhancing local tourism’.

They say the development is designed to be ‘temporary and sustainable, respecting the environment and surrounding landscape’. 

It has on site parking and the application says visitor numbers will be managed through a pre-booking system to ensure safety and avoid congestion. 

Employing up to 25 local people during the peak summer period, there would be additional employment for catering and photography staff, the documents say.

The business website promises ‘360ft of rad summer fun’ and says free rings or bodyboards are provided, with wetsuit hire available and all ages welcome.

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Going forward, the planning application is seeking 76 days annually between May and September with an additional 60-day period for set up and disassembly.

Horwood Lovacott and Newton Tracey Parish Council has expressed some misgivings for the plan and says while it appreciates it will help boost tourism, employment and provide an attraction for locals, the council had concerns over the impact of extra traffic on such narrow roads.

In its comment, the council said: “It is considered that the traffic plan indicated falls short of a more detailed explanation of expected vehicle numbers and movements that should be required for a rural road that is single track in both directions from the A39, which already carries a lot of traffic, especially if the main A39 is congested.”

The council suggested if the application was approved, it should be reviewed after the first year to see if there had been any traffic issues.

There is a second Monster Slip and Slide location at Bude. Agents for the applicants said the Barnstaple water slide would contribute positively to the economy.