Norman Wallace has lost the Pleasureland site !

[paul69]

‘Urban Splash’ is preferred developer for Marine Park



Southport.gb.com understands that Manchester based firm ‘Urban Splash’ will be announced as the preferred developer for Southport Marine Park (Pleasureland site).

‘Urban Splash’ is an established in urban regeneration and housing who are currently working on a development in Morecambe.

Norman Wallace of ‘Dreamstorm' said he was very very disappointed at the outcome but is willing to work alongside Urban Splash.

Sorry folks i would have done a link to it but i dont know how to. still learning.

[EAS]

Right well - there are worse developers than Tom Bloxham, wonder what he is planning though?

Probably NOT an amusement park - Urban Splash are property developers - but I live in hope. Good guys as far as heritage buildings and re-use is concerned.

In Morecombe it's the Midland Hotel:

http://www.midlandmorecambe.co.uk/

and more:

http://www.nwda.co.uk/news--events/pres ... cts-f.aspx

http://www.urbansplash.co.uk/Default.as ... tailID=566

Sadly, all rather too late to save the historic structures such as Cyclone on site at Southport.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/7293783.stm

[mrjimlowe]

Yes, it's official now. Coincidentally Sefton Council have made the announcement the day before New Pleasureland opened for the summer season.

New Pleasureland Update: Thursday 20 March 2008 - 2 PM

BBC Radio Merseyside News have today announced that Urban Splash have been chosen by Sefton Council to redevelop Southport seafront including the Pleasureland site. They will be consulting local people.

Nothing on their website yet http://www.urbansplash.co.uk/

More details in this BBC report:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7307185.stm
Notice it says the "now closed" Pleasureland site.

New Pleasureland's opening date for the summer season was scheduled for 15th March. This was postponed until Good Friday 21st March as some rides were not ready on time partly due to bad weather. The site has been tidied up, buildings have been painted and fencing has been repaired on the site. A Mad Mouse coaster is also being built for the summer season. The old Traumatizer station has also been demolished.

Here are the latest galleries: http://www.flickr.com/jimwelsh

See also: http://www.newpleasureland.co.nr

http://www.newpleasurelandforums.co.uk

http://www.northwestcoastalresorts.com

Members of the North West Coastal Resorts forum are currently considering an online petition to the Prime Minister to halt the decline of our coastal resorts.
When it is on line, I will be posting a link.

[uvegotmale2000]

Once southport turns into another Morecambe/Rhyl,maybe Sefton councl will realise what a pigs ear they have made of this situation

they had the chance of a brand new start with pleasureland,but now the council looks set on dumping the amusement park for good.say goodbye to your tourists

its a shame other councils dont look whats happening around the country,that when theme parks close the whole area suffers

its about time a council actually LISTENED to the voice of the people who vited them in instead of doing what they want other the people that they are supposed to serve

[mrjimlowe]

What happens in 20 years when these pretentious new buildings start to fall into disrepair? Local councils often have to pay for these things or demolish them as beyond economical repair. It is too much of a gamble.

These councillors seem to want a pat on the back for revolutionalising Southport as a new resort but all these new designed buildings have to be maintained which is very expensive. The chances are, it will all still be a building site by the next open golf tournament, and an embarrasment to Southport.

This proposed project will cost £20M less than the Dreamstorm project but at least the Dreamstorm project was a realistic one.

Sefton Council have totally lost the plot here.

[porterm]

Hi all,

I somehow smell a bit of a rat here. Council meetings, behind closed doors, and, oh yes, no public consultation in sight???

At least Margate residents have had the opportunity to voice their opinions (on quite a few occasions actually).

I'd imagine that the new Southport attraction will be similar to a Sealife centre. Not that inspiring to me, especially as there are numerous examples of those around the coastline already.

No chance of a Cyclone II then I guess sadly. I hope my judgements are proved wrong.

Martin

[Zoidstar]

Is the new pleasureland a permanant thing or just a one off for 2008?

[mrjimlowe]

Hello Zoidstar

Yes, Dreamstorm were to spend £100 million on a new Euro park, and had been granted an 18 month lease last April, which was to be extended.

The Pleasureland site at the moment mostly consists of travelling rides. This is due to the announcement back in December that Dreamstorm had not been shortlisted to develop the site longterm.

Dreamstorm have built a steel looping coaster called The Storm and there is currently another coaster, The Mad Mouse under construction. Some buildings have been refurbished to accomedate 2 new arcades, a cafe, and a coffee shop. The Fun House is also now back in operation after the former owners left it and other buildings in a trashed condition.

The Haunted Inn has also been refurbished.

So far, an estimated £600,000 has been spent on cleaning up the site and at one stage it was reported that Sefton council were going to sue the previous owners to recover the costs.
When the cyclone was demolished by the previous owners (Blackpool Pleasure Beach Ltd.), they just left all the wood there, some of which was piled up and some was buried as well. They also damaged the River Caves beyond repair.

[uvegotmale2000]

I wonder how much the council would sell the complete site to Norman wallis?

[EAS]

The council doesn't obviously want an amusement park on site! It's clearly now awarded the development contract to Urban Splash.

I think it only ever intended Mr Wallis's revamped Pleasureland as an interim measure, certainly (and I try to keep abreast of what is happening at Southport) it's the impression I got from the outset.

Sad but...

[Jim Douglas Jr.]

Cyclone torn down only to have yet another amusement park go in.
Sefton Council members should be shot. What a bunch of retards.

Urban Splash probably would have jumped at the chance to include the Cyclone in on something.

I wish I could find the information on the shopping center that went in on the grounds of an old amusement park. Instead of tearing down the 1920s Church & Pryor coaster, they refurbished it and operate it.
I don't know the name of the place or the coaster, but I've seen it on a public television coaster special a couple times.

[porterm]

Hi Jim et al,

I think the park you were searching for is Belmont Park at Mission Beach, San Diego. I have been there several times and love the place; it has the classic 1925 wooden Giant Dipper. On my last visit I bought a great paperback book called "The Giant Dipper: A Pictorial History".

Probably my most memorable visit was when I met a lady and her young daughter and we rode the Dipper tons of times a few weeks leading up to Halloween. They had even decorated the coaster's entry tunnel very imaginatively (in my opinion anyhow). The coaster is complemented by a few other midway rides like a Chaos and a junior shot/drop tower and some bumper cars.

The rest of the complex now has several beach/surfing dude style stores and the usual candy/burger and ice cream stands. A few years back it had its own McDonalds restaurant but that has fallen away now and a trendy bar/surfing attraction was there when I last visited a few years ago. The place is normally buzzing with activity, especially on weekends with its superb beach area too.

Martin