​Plans to redevelop the site of Weston-super-Mare's long-derelict Tropicana open air pool have fallen through.

North Somerset Council announced today that it and developer Henry Boot had agreed that changes in European law coupled with the current economic climate meant that the project was not commercially viable and could not proceed.

In a statement issued this evening the council said Henry Boot had made it clear that in the absence of a significant economic recovery the scheme would be difficult to take forward.

The authority said the final straw was new Government guidance that would have made proposed modifications to the development agreement with Henry Boot impossible to implement without going back out to a full European tender.

Councillor Elfan Ap Rees, deputy leader and executive member whose portfolio includes economic development at North Somerset Council, said: "It's frustrating but this is a prime seafront leisure site and there must still be an opportunity for it to contribute to the town's future.”

"No one could have foreseen the very difficult trading conditions as a result of the recession and no doubt we will be criticised from some quarters. However this is the second scheme to collapse, and the financial climate over the next ten years, forecast to be the worst since the 1960s, suggests that we now need to consider less ambitious proposals for the site.

"Whether these will include swimming facilities will depend entirely on the soundness of the business cases put forward, as national government and local budget pressures mean that North Somerset Council is extremely unlikely to ever be in a position to fund or subsidise such a venture. However what we can do is look sympathetically at new proposals.

"In the meantime the council will explore ways to tidy up and make use of the site once it is vacated by the present tenants, Birse Construction, in mid 2010."

See tomorrow’s Evening Post for full story.