With the sad demise of our nearly a century old funfair, many residents will be thinking of how this designated leisure area can be developed in order to continue Southport’s vibrant tourist presentation.
In our endeavour to continue with our Councilwatch programme, our Party, together with other, concerned local people, really need to have an input in what would be a suitable replacement. So, in order to avoid further lack of viability in possible future projects, we need to look at other successful businesses within the leisure and tourism markets.
Center Parcs appear to have developed a very good formula of providing quality chalet holiday accommodation built around nearby leisure pursuits such as horse riding, bowling, tennis, cycling and beach access that support a massive year round centrally heated indoor aqua-fun centre. This, of course, creates a tropical paradise in a structure that boasts of a constant temperature of 84 degrees Fahrenheit.
Fortunately for Southport such a facility is currently being built just across the road from the old Pleasureland site and could be incorporated to provide chalet visitors and the general public with this marvellous indoor attraction. The secret of its viability is, of course, based on the weekly rental of the accommodation and the spin-off of this combined facility would enable the Splash World feature, due to open in 2007, to have an additional income to make it a commercial success.
Whichever formula Sefton Council adopts, cost-effectiveness is the only way forward if such a project is to succeed with any degree of certainty.