THE owner of a popular family-oriented leisure park at Symonds Yat West says he is facing a new campaign of dirty tricks – but he won't let it dishearten him.
The latest attack has come in the form of a 'reader's letter' complaining about his 10-year-old enterprise which was sent to local newspapers, including the Review.
"I can tell from the wording that it must be the same small minority behind it who have always resented the park," said Henry Danter, who is preparing with his staff for another busy season.
"I believe it all started with jealousy but it has gone from that to obsession and now madness.
"And what these people do not understand is that by attacking me like this they are harming the whole of the tourism-related business at Symonds Yat."
The letter, signed by a couple from Blackburn, Lancashire and bearing a so-far untraceable address, makes accusations about the nuisance caused to residents and other businesses.
But Mr Danter is in fact one of the leading figures in promoting the area and works closely with local organisations such as the parish council and the millennium committee.
Christine Collins, who is managing director of Mr Danter's Blaisemere company which runs the landscaped park, proudly showed the Review around the compact funfair, superb adventure playground, restaurant and amusement arcade.
She also thought that jealous resentment was behind the attacks.
"Henry built all this from scratch," she said. "It wasn't as if he won the lottery or something – it was all hard work."
They always made a point of adhering to planning regulations and both she and Mr Danter felt the attackers were now turning their fire on parish and district planners.
The letter finishes: "Unfortunately we will not be returning to Symonds Yat: the planning people have not gone berserk in the Lake District, thank goodness."
The Review has a big postbag makes every effort to use only genuine letters. No letters without names and addresses will be used, although under some circumstances these will not be printed if requested.