Daredevils will soon be rolling around in the Forest of Dean as the new craze of sphereing gets the OK.
Members of the district council’s planning committee have given the green light for a 200 metre sphere course at Chessgrove Farm, in Longhope.
The adventure sport involves one or two people being strapped into a three-metre diameter inflatable sphere and pushed down a slope.
Steven Batt, who jointly applied for planning along with his son Bob, said: “It’s really good news. There’s a lot of work to do but we can make a start.
“We need to lay turf to run it properly but we have been talking about making a temporary course to start with to test the water.
“It’s a shame we’ve lost the best part of the summer.”
He added: “I went into Cinderford the other day and the young man in the shop was asking when it would be ready as they can’t wait to come down.”
Bob Batt said: “It is such a great adrenaline rush. I’ve done it before.”
The sphere, can travel at speeds of up to 30mph as gravity takes control of its descent down the slope. For added fun, water can be added to the sphere.
At Longhope soil banks 1.8m high will keep the sphere in line.
The sport will predominantly be offered to group bookings and Bob is confident it will be good for tourism.
“With Go Ape and Redhill Mountain Boarding, it will add to the list of extreme activities in the Forest,” he added.
Tourism Manager at the Forest of Dean District Council, Nicola Grieves said: “It’s really good news that the application has been granted. We are trying to attract more adrenaline sports to the area as the Forest has so much to offer.”
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