Doctor Who and Years And Years writer Russell T Davies battles against plans for giant zip wire

Doctor Who and Years and Years writer Russell T Davies has blasted plans for two 1,180ft zip wires to be built near his home. 

City Zip has proposed lines which would start at a height of 150-foot on the roof of five-star St David’s hotel before shooting across Cardiff bay to the Norwegian church on the other side.

They said the line would carry around 48 people every hour for eight hours a day for 26 weeks between July 9 and January 5.

But the top TV writer has denounced the scheme, saying it would subject him to almost one screaming person every minute, eight hours a day, shooting past his window.

House of Cards and Bridget Jones’ Diary writer Andrew Davies has also condemned the proposal, saying it would see ‘screaming idiots’ whip past his home. 

The proposed route would see thrillseekers launch themselves from the roof of five-star St David’s hotel at 150 feet and shoot 1,180ft to a platform near a Norwegian church on the other side of Cardiff bay. There would be two zip lines running along the same route

Complaining about the plans, said the fantasy writer: ‘Noise is a problem, the footfall is a problem, the lights are a problem, the generator is a problem, the drones are a problem.

‘My property will be facing a seven-day-a-week zip wire with 48 people an hour whizzing past my home and screaming for six months of the year. Are you kidding?

‘One person screaming past my windows would be a one-off event. It could even be fun! But 48 people per hour, 8 hours a day for 24 weeks equals a grand total of 64,512 events.

‘That’s 64, 512 events. Let me say it again. 64,512 people. Whizzing past my flat. Screaming. While I am working.

‘This is impossible.’

Mr Davis, screen writer for Bridget Jones, has also criticised the plans, claiming that the zip wire would disrupt his ‘calm and tranquil view’ over the bay.

The zip wire would start on the roof of St David’s hotel (pictured). City Zip, which submitted the plans to Cardiff City council, said the proposed route starts on the hotel’s roof

Mr T Davies is also screen writer for hit BBC series Years and Years where the lives of family members converge on one crucial night in 2019. The series then follows their lives over the next 15 years

‘My apartment is on the 8th floor nearest corner to St Davids Hotel looking out over the inner bay.

‘I am a writer and I need peace and quiet for my work. This scheme would mean that screaming idiots would whiz past my apartment 48 times an hour.

‘The other main reason for having this apartment is to sit on the balcony and enjoy the calm and tranquil view out over the bay. Some hopes!

‘I paid £350,000 for my apartment and this zip wire, if it goes ahead, will render it worthless to me.

‘Please abandon this reckless and unneighbourly venture.’

The plan submitted to Cardiff city council last month also said the line would normally run during the weekends. 

However, during school holidays, they said it would be open seven days a week.

In the planning application they said that the route had been ‘sensitively positioned to ensure minimal impact upon local views, nearby heritage assets and nearby occupants’.

‘From the launch platform and throughout the flight, riders enjoy unique views of the location and much of the Cardiff skyline.

‘Visitors will enjoy watching the event and the hotel should benefit from friends and family or riders using the hotel for accommodation and refreshments.’

They also said the attraction is expected to employ 25 people.

In a statement they added that they expect any sounds to be ‘drowned out by surrounding noise’.