leisuredome
Ski slope for former RAF camp?
Alex Ross, Reporter
Thursday, May 12, 2011
10:00 AM
An exciting new tourist attraction could be opened on a former barracks site near Weston – attracting more than half a million visitors in its first year.
skidomerevisedThe Mercury can exclusively reveal that Bristol-based Leisuredome UK wants to build a £50million ski dome on land to the east of Locking Parklands, formerly known as RAF Locking.
The developer says the venue would be the first of its kind in the South West and, at 210m in length, would have the longest indoor snow ski slope in the country.
It would also have a large climbing centre, a health club, skateboard and BMX park, sky dive simulator and children’s activity zone.
At its front, there would be range of sport-themed shops, cafés and restaurants.
The developer had initially planned to build the attraction on nearby Weston Airfield, but following a ‘number of unresolved issues’ bosses instead chose the former barracks site, which is also set for hundreds of new homes over the next 20 years.
The issues included problems over flight paths and a village green application made by Locking Parish Council, which could have scuppered the company’s bid for the land.
Leisuredome UK director Clive Hamilton-Davies said: “This has the potential to attract more than half a million visitors in its first year of opening.
“The development will not only attract those interested in the activities on offer, but will also generate wider associated tourism benefits for Weston.
“Working with existing attractions like the Grand Pier, LeisureDome will extend the length of time visitors stay in the town, this in turn will help to increase the income from tourism.”
Mr Hamilton-Davies said the three-storey attraction, which would be on 12 acres of land, would generate about 570 jobs.
He added: “The proposed facility will offer the country’s longest indoor ski slope and, in addition, will also include other significant tourist attractions including the country’s tallest climbing wall.”
The Locking Parklands site is also subject of a £400million housing plan for 1,500 properties and employment space by developer St Modwen.
North Somerset Council’s economic development service manager, Simon Gregory, welcomed the plan and said: “For North Somerset to be attracting this type of proposal is more evidence that our area is on the up and businesses are seeing its investment potential, especially at a time when the economy generally continues to struggle.”
Leisuredome UK, which hopes to start building the attraction by the end of this year, is holding a public exhibition to showcase its proposal at the Woodspring Stadium in Winterstoke Road from 2-8pm today (Thurs).
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20 comments
Andyr - where do u read that I am not in favour of this? When this was presented to go on the Airfield there were plans to cope with the traffic factored into the plans, also a North and South entry and exist. If you cannot see the traffic issues that this brings if not addressed, then u have your head in the sand.
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Mukiwa
Friday, May 13, 2011
Why wait until 2013 to build it? Oh dear! Some people. Planning permission takes a number of months and, they've already said that if things go to plan, then they'll hopefully start building work at the end of this year. Add a year for actually building it, which means 2013 is the quickest they can get it open. This really will be great for Weston and the South West. Bring it on!
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Weston2010
Friday, May 13, 2011
I really hope this happens. I would rather have a tourist attraction which brings people into Weston and much needed money into the local economy that an empty, disused RAF base that will turn into a mecca for travellers now the gates have gone. Think everyone should be welcoming this and at the same time speaking to John Penrose MP to highlight this as an ideal opportunity for the government to address the issue of Junction 21A!
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James Martin
Friday, May 13, 2011
Mukiwa you are so miserable, suggest you move to Burnham where u cant see it
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Andyr
Friday, May 13, 2011
cant please some people
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Andyr
Friday, May 13, 2011
build it now before north somerset council get involved and destroy it
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Andyr
Friday, May 13, 2011
We have heard all this type of thing before, remember Peter De Savery, was going to build a water park, then we had the saga of Henry Boot and Mace. I will believe it when I see it built. Why wait until 2013, why not start now if they are that keen.
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Mabel Thorpe
Friday, May 13, 2011
Build it now, not interested in skiing, but can certainly see the benefits this would bring to Weston. Anyone who can't is only looking at it from a selfish point of view.
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Steve Bailey
Thursday, May 12, 2011
This is a fantastic idea. The facilities in Weston need to be dragged into the 21st century or the town is going to die. This is just what this town needs investment and good leisure facilities, build it now!
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KEZROU
Thursday, May 12, 2011
I think this is a great idea for weston. I travelled to Milton Keynes recently to indoor skydive, so this would be much better !!
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Bruce
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Blimey, this is the sort of thing Weston needs, how anyone can disagree with this is only looking from a purely selfish point of view. I can't ski, or really wish to learn to ski, but I am happy to see this come to Weston & generate more employment opportunities.
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Steve Bailey
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Yet again more negative comments than positive. We should be thankful that there are still efforts to improve the tourist facilities in WSM. Or we can just wait until the SnowDome at Cardiff is build and complain that we should have something similar. Also Motorway junctions are a Highways Agency issue not the council's - otherwise we would likely have "victorian style" access to the motorway
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what_tropicana
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Ignore the moaners and just build it. :)
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Weston2010
Thursday, May 12, 2011
This will not create 500+ long term jobs and what jobs that will be created will no doubt go to Eastern European labour as the margins will be tight and the youth of Weston will be overlooked! The traffic will be a worse nightmare than it already is!
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MrTaxPayer
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Anything that actively encourages employment in Weston should be actively encouraged and there are a good number of reasons why I should be in favour of this project. However, there is a massive infrastructure nightmare leaving our town, at the best of times, as anyone who ever has to commute to work etc will be more than aware of. This is a problem that also needs to be addressed and quickly if the anticipated 500,000 visitors in its inital Year of opening are to be achieved.
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Chris White
Thursday, May 12, 2011
I think this is a fab idea!! I wish we'd had something like this to do when I was younger and I think it will encourage the lazy kids who do nothing but watch TV and play computer games to get out and do something that’s not only active exercise but is so much fun! As an Adult I’m so jealous I didn’t have this opportunity as a child. As a Mother I will defiantly be taking full advantage of the ski slope as a fun day out with the family!! Fingers crossed and hope it goes ahead!!
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cc88
Thursday, May 12, 2011
I think this is a fab idea!! I wish we'd had something like this to do when I was younger and I think it will encourage the lazy kids who do nothing but watch TV and play computer games to get out and do something that’s not only active exercise but is so much fun! As an Adult I’m so jealous I didn’t have this opportunity as a child. As a Mother I will defiantly be taking full advantage of the ski slope as a fun day out with the family!! Fingers crossed and hope it goes ahead!!
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cc88
Thursday, May 12, 2011
I really meant Milton Keynes!?*
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Mukiwa
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Oh, I also think it's an ugly looking building that is going to blot Weston's landscape for years to come - the design needs to be softened along the lines of Melton Mowbray's ski facility.
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Mukiwa
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Exciting for who? Whilst the jobsfacility is welcomed to the Weston area, Simon Gregory is being disingenuous by not highlighting that these additional 500,000 visitors (the majority of) will be be funnelled down the A370 off Junction 21, then along the A371 to the one and only entryexit point for Locking Parklands. As Parklands grows, the traffic nightmare will not only affect Westonians but will create more traffic headaches for Banwell, Locking and Hutton. Without a North site entryexit point for Parklands to feed into this facility, this planning application should be actively resisted by all those who don't want to end up gridlocked in their cars along the A370 (N) and A371 for hours - another example of the CC granting planning applications without looking at the bigger, long- term, picture.
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Mukiwa
Thursday, May 12, 2011