Funding bid to breathe new life into Tropicana

MILLIONS of pounds of government cash could be pumped into improvements at Westonsuper-Mare’s Tropicana following the exit of See Monster.

North Somerset Council is to make a detailed bid to the Arts Council England Cultural Development Fund for £4.8 million, £2.95 million of which will be spent on the seafront venue.

Council officials say that a large amount of cash needs to be spent on the Tropicana, which opened in 1937, to ensure it is structurally sound and waterproof.

The number of fire doors needs to be increased to allow the building to host bigger events and the noisy central heating system fixed.

Work will also be done to improve the capacity of the building’s internal spaces and to improve their functionality and flexibility of use which in turn will generate income. The bid also includes £700,000 to support future programming at the Tropicana.

The council will also have to find £720,000 from its reserves in matchfunding for the application. North Somerset Council executive member for business and economy Mark Canniford said: “There has been a lot of under investment in the Tropicana over recent decades.

“And the work that needs to be done is essential work. There are a number of problems, including with the heating system. It is so noisy that it has to be turned off when there are concerts there. The number of fire doors needs to be increased because at the moment the number of people the venue can hold has to be limited.

“There is also structural work which needs to be done, including to the roof which leaks. If successful with the bid, this money will be used to bring the building up to a standard where we can then take decisions about its future.”

Some of the money would also be used to look at creating a “small-scale” cultural facility at Birnbeck Pier. The proposals follow a series of successful concerts last year where a stage was put up on the walkway by the island.

“The events were so successful, we are keen to rekindle them,” said Mr Canniford. “This would be about creating a cultural space, whether that be a stage or a small-scale performance space in the area.

“As part of our placemaking plans we want to stretch the cultural offer, right down the seafront and Tropicana up to Birnbeck Island.”

The bid comes at the same time as the council is looking at what is next for the iconic seafront venue.

North Somerset Council, with support from Arts Council England, is looking at the long-term future for the seafront venue. A working group has been set up with authority chiefs saying all options are on the table.

The Tropicana needs nearly £3m spending on it, say councillors