The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
New quest for park operator
Afresh bid has been launched to find an operator for a seaside Arbroath park at the centre of a sixfigure spending row.
Angus Council hopes to find someone willing to run West Links Park for the next five years.
It comes 12 months after an invitation to tender failed to draw any expressions of interest in the long-established park.
West Links was a magnet for generations of Scots holidaymakers in its heyday.
In 2012, there £500,000 revamp seafront playpark.
But the area lost one of its most famous attractions last year when dwindling visitor numbers forced the closure of Kerr’s Miniature Railway after 85 years.
In a turnaround mission, was a of the the council is to spend more than £200,000 on a new crazy golf attraction – although the project has divided opinion.
A council spokesman said: “Once appointed, the recreations operator would be responsible for facilities that include the crazy golf, mini-cars, putting, pitch and putt, a quad bike track, tennis courts and public toilets.
“The council would also welcome any serious offer to further invest in the location, whether or not it is directly related with the management of the playpark and attractions.”
He added: “Recent reports that firm offers for the further development of attractions on the West Links have been made to Angus Council are not correct.
“While the council has held discussions with third parties in relation to potential development, no formal proposals have been received.”
John Kerr, the thirdgeneration owner of the miniature railway, said he felt “hoodwinked” by the council after discussions aimed at extending the railway to take it closer to the main playpark and other attractions broke down.
He was willing to put up £75,000 of his own money but said the development of the 18-hole crazy golf attraction would leave no space for the railway.
A second operator’s hopes of developing a dinosaur park and Scotland’s first artificial caving system at West Links also fell through.
The council spokesman said: “The council remains open and receptive to any formal approach.”