Rhyl Water Chute - bad news

[Nick]

We had agreed with the owners of Ocean Beach Amusement Park at Rhyl to acquire and dismantle the UK's last surviving circular water chute for the Heritage Amusement Park project. Following months of discussion and negotiation, Hopkinson Construction Engineering were booked to go on site on Monday and commence dismantling, with the ride having to be removed no later than 14 November, after which it will be demolished (the site will be sold to developers on 31 October, but we were hopeful as of yesterday to secure the necessary two week extension to give us the four weeks dismantling time that we needed).

Unfortunately, our funders pulled out earlier this evening, so it now seems unlikely that we can save this ride. Negotiations are of course continuing, but if we can't find the £48,950 that we need by Monday morning, the chances of us saving the last surviving Water Chute of its kind (once seen at Great Yarmouth, Porthcawl, Belle Vue, Blackpool, Battersea and Southend) will have significantly reduced. This ride is identical to the water chute that operated at Deamland until about 1996. If anyone can think of any way we can get our hands on £49k, plus cover transport costs, in 48 hours, we would love to hear from you! We need somebody with very deep pockets and a love for amusement park rides! (This cannot be in the form of a loan, as we cannot guarantee that it can be repaid).

I will be working through the weekend to find a solution, but I am not hopeful.

[EAS]

Dreadful news Nick.
Any reason given?

[porf]

That's awful news.

No ideas from me unfortunately, but good luck Nick.

[David Ellis]

That is VERY sad news. I believe this is the last example of its type anywhere (I certainly don't know of any others).

If only I had the money...

David.

[lanesra]

This is not the news we wanted to hear. Instead of looking for one person with deep pockets, couldnt all campaign members make a donation? If 490 members donated £100 each, this would give you £49k. Or 980 members donated £50 each and so on and so on.I know a lot of people probably haven't got this kind of spare cash (me for one) but I would be very willing to donate £100 to start things off.I know 48 hours isn't a lot of time, but if we could raise some of the funds (if not all) by Monday, I'm sure we could save the last surviving circular water chute from the scrapheap. Just an idea...........

[porf]

I'd be up for making a donation, but without trying to be too negative I think even if we could raise enough the timescale really is the biggest problem here. I can't see we'd realistically have enough to make a dent in that amount by Monday (but I'd love to see everyone prove me wrong )

[kevinashe]

How about media interest to generate possible finances or are there any local millionares who could fund this.how about tom hunter(ex owner of sports divison and owner of d2 and financier of bhs)who is regarded in scotland as the new andrew carnegie as he used his quote which i cant remember but it basically meant that if a man dies rich then he dies without fullfilling his life,just an idea or is Peter Crompton available.

[Jim Douglas Jr.]

Awful news, especially at the last minute.

[Marky66]

Terrible news, I loved these rides and was gutted when they removed the Yarmouth and Margate ones, I have posted news on the ECC list, I just wish I had the money.

[Matty]

I know nothing of how the Heritage Park will be run, but is there any chance you could sell off some kind of share or stake in the venture to a local businessman?

Maybe even see if that guy who runs Adventure Island could help you out, offer him a stake. He’s interested in Dreamland isn’t he?

[kevinashe]

Nick even if you cant take the ride yourself,like me you would rather see the ride saved so ive post on a few other sites and the only other person that i can come up with who may be interested could be Norman Wallis and his pleasureland development in Southport.

[Alan]

Yes sad news, this sounds like the fact that Waterbridge maybe selling up.

Was it Waterbridge putting up the money?


Alan

[EAS]

Any news on the things rescued from Pleasureland and in storage then?

[kevinashe]

i assume these are ok because they have been dismantled,the stumbling block is the 49000 pounds for dismantling that was to start on monday.with such a short timescale its going to be difficult and hopefully another park will come forward to take it

[EAS]

I think that the ownership may be a stumbling block.