Weston on the map for trade visit

A record turn out of over 100 members of the UK’s largest leisure industry association representing commercial leisure parks, piers, zoos and static attractions sector visited the West Country yesterday.

BALPPA, the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions visited Wookey Hole, Bristol Zoo and Brean Leisure Park before moving onto Weston where the group has not been for over 17 years. In Weston, the members had a sumptuous 3-course lunch at the Thatched Cottage Restaurant on Weston super Mare's seafront and a presentation on the rebuilding of the Pier from Kerry Michael, joint owner of the Pier. The group then took a tour of the Pier building site.

He said: We were delighted to welcome major operators such as Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Drayton Manor Park and Crealey to our operation in Weston and I was particularly pleased with the support and encouragement we received for the rebuilding of the Grand Pier. We look forward to welcoming them back for the grand re-opening next July.

Colin Dawson, the Chief Executive of BALPPA said: “We had a fantastic meal at the Thatched Cottage and it was both exciting and encouraging to see the excellent work being progressed on The Grand Pier. There was a good turnout of members for the visit and over £2,500 was raised for a local charity, The Seashore Centre at Weston General Hospital. Our organisation speaks for over 300 members and we are currently lobbying government on a number of issues of importance to our Members including the introduction of Daylight Saving to allow an extra hour of usable daylight throughout the year which will provide an important boost to all UK tourism businesses.

Mumbles Pier owner John Bollom was in the BALPPA party. He said: “As a pier owner myself, I was amazed to see the speed and amount of work that has been carried out on Grand Pier in only 15 months since the tragic fire.

“Weston is lucky to have a pier owner that is able to mobilise the necessary resource for a project of this size so quickly. It must be difficult for an average person to appreciate the difficulties and problems in constructing a structure of this scale in such a hostile and awkward environment. In over 40 years involvement with seaside piers this is the largest single development I have witnessed. I am very much looking forward to seeing the finished result next July.”
Picture shows: BALPPA delegates on the Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare.