A BID for two new zip wires at Tidenham’s National Diving and Activity Centre was rejected by a single vote after neighbours voiced fears of visitors “screaming and shouting” on the rides.

Forest planning officers also told councillors they were unconvinced by proposals to dampen the noise of the operation.

More than 1,000 people signed a petition backing the plan for a new launch and landing station for two more 580m long zip wires at the quarry site, while another 182 signed one objecting to it.

Nick Slattery, of Tidenham Village Residents’ Association, told the Forest of Dean Council’s planning committee: “There’s an unnatural noise like a siren and regularly the noise of screaming and shouting. The rides are irritatingly repetitive and they go about every two to three minutes and run all day.

“The noise disturbance is generated almost exclusively during residents’ home time, every weekend, every holiday and every day through the school holidays.

“It’s feared that two more zip wires will increase noise levels to an unacceptable level,” he added. “We still support the NDAC as it was originally planned, as a quiet diving centre, but what we don’t support is a site that generates unacceptable noise, on unsuitable days, at unsociable hours.”

Last week’s planning meeting heard that scientists contracted by the NDAC to assess the noise found it “low impact” and six containers were proposed as shields to dampen the sound.

NDAC owner Darren Bryce told councillors: “A Freedom of Information request by the council shows there has been one noise complaint in five years.

“We’ve had in excess of 12,000 people stay at the diving centre in the last 18 months, all within 50m of the zip wire, and none have complained.

“The parish church have held two meetings with over 150 local people attending the site and no complaints. The views of a few select residents are clearly not representative or shared by the wider community or parish council.”

He added that all parties had agreed the application was “low impact”, and they were “astonished” that the council’s environmental health officer opposed the plan.

“We have demonstrated a professional approach and given weight to expert opinion and views,” he said. “Unsubstantiated fear of noise is hardly a justification for a recommendation of refusal.”

A resident in the public gallery who shouted “the biggest load of rubbish I’ve heard” was rebuked by committee chairman Cllr Philip Burford (Hartpury, Ind), who said he would clear the chamber if there was one more outburst.

Tidenham ward councillor Helen Molyneux (Con) said: “I’m completely torn. No one should have to put up with hearing profane language in the back of their garden, but the NDAC is a very popular attraction.”

Fellow ward councillor Gethyn Davies (Ind) added: “People will never object to the diving centre, but zip wires, outdoor cinemas, swings, that is not a diving centre.

“There’s bad language and it’s not fair to people living there experiencing such horrors on an afternoon.”

The application was rejected by five votes to four, with two abstentions.