Protests hit plan for new Alton Towers ride

A PLANNING application for a £12 million ride to replace the Corkscrew at Alton Towers has been deferred following a barrage of protests.

The attraction, billed as the "world's first roller-coaster of its kind", is to be built in the park's Ug Land and is due to open next year.

Residents and Alton and Farley parish councils have lodged objections amid fears over its appearance, noise nuisance and increase in traffic.

The application has been temporarily withdrawn to give Staffordshire Moorlands District Council planners more time to investigate the issues.

A decision will now be made at next month's meeting of the district council's planning applications committee instead of at a meeting today.

Thirty-nine letters of objection have been submitted and concerns have been raised that the ride – code-named Secret Weapon Six – will be located in the vicinity of an Iron Age hill fort.

A council spokesman said: "The council has deferred the application to the planning committee to enable more detailed consideration of representations received."