Video: £28 million plan for Weston Pier revealed
The new rides and attractions set to thrill visitors when Weston-super-Mare's fire-ravaged Grand Pier reopens have been revealed.
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A giant surfboard ride and a dragster ride simulating speeds of 300mph will form part of the £28-million project to rebuild the pier's pavilion.
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The Grand Pier's co-owner Kerry Michael says the attractions could be open by the summer of 2010, two years after a huge blaze destroyed the pavilion.
Mr Michael says he picked up inspiration for new rides while travelling the globe in search of the latest attractions.
On the surfboard ride, visitors will stand up and move along on two moving waves while those on the dragster ride will experience g-force while watching footage from a drag strip race.
Inside the pavilion will be 'Robocoaster', a giant arm ride which twists and spins people sitting inside a huge hand. Kerry said he would also reinstate old favourites such as the crazy house, dodgems and ghost train.
He said: "A lot of work has gone into coming up with the latest rides for the new pavilion. There is going to be a huge go-kart track even bigger than we had before.
"The giant surfboard ride on the roof of the walkway holds 20 people who stand up and it travels along a wave and spins, like you are surfing on a giant surfboard.
"We will also have a dragster ride on the roof as well, which holds nine people. All the over-18s amusements will be on the first floor.
"The north west corner tower will be a three-storey helter skelter and other corner towers will offer a children's play area, conferencing, office space and catering.
"There is also going to be an 85m observation tower, which slowly rotates. We also have a fantastic lighting scheme throughout, which is way over the top but it is run on LED so will be energy-efficient. I can't wait to get on and build it now.
"Our plans are being submitted to North Somerset Council today and it will go to committee on March 12, 2009."
Aside from the main rides, there will be an arrivals shelter at the shore end and a land train along the walkway. At the entrance, there will be a glass atrium roof which opens and closes.
At the rear of Weston pier there will be an Edwardian tearoom, which will double as a wedding venue for 125 people.
Mr Michael said extra safety measures will be included as part of the design to protect the complex in the event of another fire in the future.
He said: "There will be smoke venting in the roof and sprinklers and we are installing a water tank, which holds 165 cubic metres of water, in the base of the observation tower."
Peter Wood, one of the architects behind the new design, said: "We are very pleased with the way it has come out.
"We have spent a lot of time working on it and thinking about how it will sit in Weston.
"It is going to be an iconic building that will stand the test of time and sits well in the family of pier pavilions.
"It is a modern building but has important elements that link to the history of the pier, such as the four corner towers."
Subject to planning permission being awarded, the complex will open in the summer of 2010.
Project manager Eric Wallace from APS project management in Bristol, said: "We are going to be open in the summer of 2010 and that is a major challenge.
"We are on programme and we are trying to shorten that programme all the time."
Comments
by GingerRog, Bristol
Monday, December 08 2008, 9:02PM
“Steve, Isle of Sanity
Moaner Lisa had a sister called Moaner Lot.”
by Bob, Bristol
Monday, December 08 2008, 6:56PM
“Why is Weston getting another pier? What's wrong with the old one?”
by richard, clevedon
Monday, December 08 2008, 5:29PM
“it a piers to be a pier beond the end of the pier”
by James S, Bristol
Monday, December 08 2008, 5:25PM
“Despite the occasional moaner I suspect that more people will come to like the new pier given time.
The designs put forward were limited in terms of inovation by the the structure they needed to be built upon (what was left of the old pier) and a small place like Weston isn't exactly going to be able to come up with the funds to do something as daring as Dubai's Palm islands (Gary I'd suggest checking you facts: Work on the first of the palm islands started in 2001 and has so far cost over £8.3 billion. A slightly bigger budget than the £28m Weston Pier has).
No matter what was proposed people would find something to whinge and complain about. Personally I look forward to seeing this project completed.”
by chris, Ex Bristol
Monday, December 08 2008, 4:31PM
“Some people will love this. The comments of people in the midlands are far more encouraging than the miserable locals of Weston. Its funny how they can only see the good side Weston in the midlands yet all the BEP readers can only see the bad.”
by Mary, Bristol
Monday, December 08 2008, 4:28PM
“Steve is famous in his own y fronts. Gooosh what a light day on the that other front the news front.”
by The REAL Steve, Isle of Pleasantries.
Monday, December 08 2008, 3:11PM
“An impostor is going under my name, I know our writing looks very similar, but I am the one and only ~ honestly.
Mind you "other Steve", you are right about the ages of my jokes ~ Moaner Lisa - Ugh.”
by Steve, Isle of crappy old jokes
Monday, December 08 2008, 2:03PM
“I like moaning about pier stories and most of my jokes are indeed older than the original pier itself.”
by Gary, Cornwall
Monday, December 08 2008, 2:00PM
“More money than sense, shame they could not propose something innovative. Sounds like another pier with a little choccy topping sprinkled on top. Over 20 years ago, Dubai re-engineered part of its coast, creating the world¿s largest man-made port\holiday complex called the palm.
Weston has returned to the 1800's. The first roller coaster was built on a pier in 1938. If you are going to waste 28 million pounds at least build something unique and give people a reason to visit.”
by Steve, Isle of Paintings
Monday, December 08 2008, 1:56PM
“She was framed!
Nothing wrong with moaning, you may even have a famous portrait named after you.
Remember MOANER LISA?”