New market and cinema part of leisure park plan
PROPOSALS FOR FORMER PULLMAN LODGE AND SEABURN CENTRE SITES
A new leisure park could fill a prized seafront spot on the city’s coastline.
Markets, an outdoor cinema and shops feature in the temporary plans for the former Pullman Lodge and Seaburn Centre sites, as well as the neighbouring former funfair plot in Seaburn.
A temporary use application, on behalf of Siglion to Sunderland City Council, sets out how coastal gardens, games courts and play spaces could feature in the scheme for over a period of up to five years.
As part of the scheme, “bespoke shipping containers” could be used to house some ventures, with a cycle hub and bike hire base, summer beach school, cafes and retail kiosks and huts also suggested alongside workshops, educational activities, to host community events and offer people the chance to hire them out.
About six containers are suggested as part of the plans.
But the plans have already provoked disagreement among politicians.
The garden could be created with the help of primary schoolchildren and the Royal Horticultural Society and could feature a pick your own fruit section and an picnicking area, as well as a play space.
A play area would also fea- ture adventure golf and trampolines.
The plans have been pulled together by Cundall, which has been tasked to draw up proposals which are family focused, serve visitors and residents, include outdoor and indoor activities and can be used all-year round.
The planning statement says: “The uses will be implemented on a temporary basis and will not preclude the development of the Seaburn site in line with the masterplan, approved hybrid application or further full planning applications that come forward before the temporary permission expires.
“The community uses will provide a hub for activity for the local community and provide seasonal related activities, which will open up further engagement with the community and allow a variety of people to become further involved in the progression of the redevelopment of Seaburn.
“The implementation of these uses would draw in members of the public, helping the public to reconnect and once again associate the Seaburn seafront as a vibrant, attractive seaside town.”
But Fulwell councillor George Howe, a Conservative member on Sunderland City Council, does not believe residents will be in favour of the plan.
He said: “I think it’s absolute rubbish.
“We don’t want containers down there, what colour will they paint them?
“I don’t think it’s a good option and I think the council should give us the swimming pool they promised they would give us down there when Crowtree closed.
“Instead, people have to go three or four miles to the Aquatic Centre, which is now going to close for a time for repairs.
“I collected a petition of 350 names, lots of them visitors, and people want to see a leisure centre with a pool down there.”