AFTER months of battling to take over a seafront site a Weston businessman has been told he can run it for just £100.

AFTER months of battling to take over a seafront site a Weston businessman has been told he can run it for just £100.

Steve Berry will take on a temporary lease for the Park Place Putting Green for the next five weeks.

The concessionaire, who already runs Uphill Waterfront Snacks on the beach, was told in May that proposals to let him run the site, in Knightstone Road, had been put on hold by North Somerset Council.

Then the unitary authority agreed to let Weston Town Council use the putting green for the exciting new £400,000 water park it is proposing to create.

However, this week Mr Berry was told he could temporarily run the site until September 7 for a token rent to cover administration costs.

After that date, the town council will take over the lease and begin work on the water park.

Mr Berry, who also runs Berry's World of Flavours at the Silica and Berry's Central News and Food in The Centre, Weston, said: "While it is a risk in the light of the pier situation, we took the view that this was an opportunity to get another attraction up and running sooner rather than later, for the good of residents and visitors alike.

"Unfortunately the shortness of the operation will mean we will be unable to bring the other upgrades to the site such as floral displays and a replica floral clock, but it was felt better to be open with something rather than have another year of inaction."

The 18-hole putting course, which has been renamed Berry's Putting on the Waterfront for the duration of the temporary lease, will be open daily, weather permitting.

North Somerset Council's executive member responsible for tourism, Councillor Elfan Ap Rees, said: "The town council had arranged to take over the site but the agreement was that it would run it and keep it tidy.

"It then felt it did not have time to get things running there this season and it was suggested that Mr Berry might be able to do that, as he already has some equipment.

"We could not let the town council sub-let the site but did not have any objection to him taking it over for the next five weeks while the town council moves forward with its plans for the site.

"With the fire at the Grand Pier I am keen to make sure we have as many attractions available as possible.