M&DS aiming at expansion
Proposals submitted to council
A new ride and an all-weather dome are part of multimillion expansion plan for M&D’S.
They have approached North Lanarkshire Council with a proposal to increase the land they lease at Strathclyde Park.
And councillors on the Infrastructure Committee were set to make a decision yesterday (Wednesday, September 12).
A report stated: “The proposals include space to accommodate a possible extension to the Alona Hotel, a new feature ride and additional landscaping and an events area including an all-weather dome.
“The proposals estimate an additional 90 full and part-time permanent jobs will be created. The developments will improve the appeal to regional visitors and impact positively on Strathclyde Park as a visitor destination.”
M & D (Leisure) Limited (M & D’s) have put the proposals before the council with the aim of creating “a first-class, year-round attraction in Lanarkshire which would attract visitors from all over the UK”.
Plans include an extension to the Alona Hotel, with 37 more rooms and the addition of a spa and beauty treatment area. And proposals for inside the theme park include a new feature ride and additional landscaping.
The report adds: “Extensions requested to the north and east of the park will allow events areas to be created including an all-weather dome.
“The planned event market includes car rallies, steam fairs and Highland Games. M & D’s are also increasing their marketing effort in Northern Ireland and the North of England and are already seeing a rise in visitors from further afield choosing to visit and stay.
“Discussions are ongoing, with officers to develop joint marketing of the country park facilities with M&D’S to improve the offer for longerduration visits.”
It continues: “M & D’s plan to invest in the region of £3million in the hotel upgrades and over £1m in creating events areas and improving rides and landscaping in the theme park. The estimated resultant increase in turnover is £3.5 to £4m. This will result in increased rental income to the council and a positive impact on visitor numbers to the park.
“M & D’s currently employ 310 permanent and 120 seasonal employees, with 95 per cent living in Lanarkshire.
“Their proposals aim to increase this by 30 per cent, creating up to 90 new positions with a mixture of full and part time, spread between the hotel and park.
“M & D’s already run student placements within their business and are in discussions with local colleges to expand this.”
The report says the existing site is 6.36 hectares and additional ground will extend to 11.97 hectares, resulting in a total revised lease area of 18.33 hectares.
The recommendation from council officers to councillors was that the Infrastructure Committee approves the proposal to vary the current lease held by M & D Leisure Ltd at Strathclyde Country Park as outlined.