New wheel plan put forward by funfair’s owner
ADISUSED public toilet in Southport is to be demolished and replaced with a bistro and “observation wheel”.
The 35-metre-high wheel, to be built by Southport Pleasureland, will sit in Princes Park on the edge of Marine Lake and is expected to become a landmark feature for the town.
Pleasureland owner Norman Wallis said: “The wheel is a real show-stopper and I think the town deserves a landmark feature of this calibre and we believe it will be incredibly popular.
“The views will be breathtaking and the observation wheel itself will be able to be clearly seen when approaching the town.
“This fabulous iconic feature will give people yet another reason to stop and admire the sea views - and make a hugely positive addition to Southport’s visitor appeal.”
In a planning application submitted to Sefton Council, Mr Wallis has asked for temporary permission to keep the wheel in place for three years after demolishing the graffiti-covered former toilet next to the footbridge over Marine Lake.
The planning application also includes a proposal for a bistro next to the wheel, with a deck stretching over the model railway and offering views of the lake itself.
Set to be completed later this year, provided planning permission is granted, the wheel will be the first in a series of additions to Southport designed to increase the number of visitors to the resort in the wake of the pandemic.
On the other side of Marine Lake, the council has proposed building a new events centre to replace the Southport Theatre and Conference Centre that closed during lockdown and is unlikely to ever reopen.
This will also feature a pier extending into the lake and offering a light show that Sefton Council hopes will draw in thousands of people each year.
Pleasureland’s wheel will offer its own light show as well as opportunities for private hire and corporate events.
The application for the wheel and bistro can be viewed on the council’s website and a decision is expected by the end of August.
●●Stand Up Special: p22-23