Southport Forums - Pleasureland Southport has closed

Pleasureland Southport has closed
Tue 5th Sep 2006, 05:44 PM
Reported by: onthespot

Pleasureland Southport has closed due to adverse trading conditions. Management say there is no return on capital investment in the town. Workers received their notices late this afternoon (Tuesday 5th September 2006). An update to appear later.

Letter given to staff

Happy days-June 2002 when Mr Geoffrey Thompson MD of Blackpool Pleasure Beach (rear) officially re-opened the Chewits Log Chute ride.

Onthespot - your online reporter

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YOUR COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE

(188 comments)

cazxxx says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 05:49 PM

oh my ... that is an awful lot of people out of work then .. can't believe that they have closed the place!

merseybeasts says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 05:52 PM

One thing that gets me here, is the time of original post is actually before we were all told !!!!

pedoja says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 05:56 PM

Do they not consider that the £2 charge for everyone entering has put a LOT of people off taking their children/grandchildren there?

red7 says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 05:58 PM

Col, the clock on this site is an hour out so it should read 17:44 as the post time.

Please pass on my best to all there.

Cheers

Ray

karmacoma says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 06:00 PM

They can't possibly close Pleasureland, it's a part of Southport, always has been. Or do they want to build another hotel or flats (sorry, apartments) on the site? Once more the accountant closes a thriving business.

pedoja says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red7

Col, the clock on this site is an hour out so it should read 17:44 as the post time.

It is the time zone on your computer (for this site) that is wrong.

If you have not set the correct time zone (in 'user cp') then posts will appear to be a different time to what they actually were.

dons says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 06:13 PM

OMG....cant believe that its shut!!

ian1gail says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 06:15 PM

Sad news. Lets hope it reopens in spring 2007. We spent hours there with the kids when they were young.
My Dad used to tell the story of how he would cycle from Kirkdale leave his bike outside Pleasurland (unlocked) and it still be there at teatime. That would be about 1933.

Phil Rodwell says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 06:18 PM

Surely Sefton Council must take some blame for this decision i.e. parking charges in the town, pedestrianisation, never ending gridlocked traffic in the town centre etc….etc

Pictured below is Graham Haywood Chief Executive of Sefton MBC (front) with Geoffrey Thompson (middle) at an official ride opening.

arron says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 06:20 PM

i was working there today (HB Leisure) i knew something was going, lots of rumours, apparently the Traumatizer is going to Blackpool where the log flume went? that was a rumour anyway.

i think whats to blame from working there is the £2 charge certainly doesnt help, they were trying to make the place a theme park and it just isnt, it doesnt compete with blackpool or alton towers

the park was open today 5hours from 11-4, wristbands were still £18... how can they justify that?!

they had it coming... i think maybe a downsize could have kept the place open or investment from somewhere.... but as i dont work for pleasureland ive not been told so all i want to know now is....

do i go to work tomorrow?!? haha

iccle_tigger says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 06:25 PM

Wonder what there gonna replace it wiv?

rabbit12 says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 06:31 PM

I have two small children (3+5) and I would NOT under any circumstances have paid to either enter the "park" or bought wristbands when my children would probably not use 1/10th of the park. However, had I been able to pay per ride we probably would have considered taking them in to have a look and a little ride.

I think they cut off their noses to spite their face, when they drove the fighting, drinking scallys away they also drove the customers away as well.

That is prime land, and they will probably make a killing selling it on.

But - the Pleasureland Website is still selling tickets and does not advertise that it is closing.

bongo says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 06:37 PM

Silcocks Family originally put a better bid in than Blackpool but got knocked back by southport council, as Blackpool promised them this that and the other........
Silcocks being a Southport based family with rides all readey on site should have had the contract.Lets hope they take it over and make it a great place to visit once again.

bingobabe says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 06:43 PM

the end of an era and southport if we are noy careful

over the hill says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 06:47 PM

See Raves - I (over the hill) was right about the fair closing down - never underestimate me and my info when I post on the site!!!!!!

merseybeasts says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 06:48 PM

rabbit,

the land is only leased from council

madmal_3 says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 06:50 PM

undefinedundefinedyou should organiz a protest against them if they dont reopen it southport will loose a lot more

a.l.guzzler says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 06:52 PM

How sad!

When I came to Southport in 1965 Pleasureland was exactly that! A walk with the family would guarantee a go on a ride, some candy floss or an hour in the Fun House! This last year or so a family can't afford to even go in! I hope Silcocks can step in to save it...

funtimefrankie says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Surely Sefton Council must take some blame for this decision

Give it a rest Phil......

Quote:

parking charges

don't they have their own car park?

Quote:

pedestrianisation

Now you're really clutching at hairs!!!!!!!

Quote:

never ending gridlocked traffic in the town centre

Straight down the Coast Road/ Sea wall and on to the car park, never touch the town centre

ploppy says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 07:01 PM

I blame Phil Rodwell.

L@ur@ says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 07:03 PM

Stop electioneering when people have just lost their jobs!!!

brit&proud says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 07:05 PM

It doesnt suprise me... Since Blackpool took over pleasureland it has become an eye sore... It was nothing what it used to be like.. my parents worked there over 40 years ago and I stayed friendly with alot of the traders, the silcocks, spencers only to name a few.. they certainly had the banter of what a fairground should be like. Nice friendly folk. Okay it did start to go down hill and was in need of alot of restoration.. thats exactly what the Thompson family said and they promised to upgrade it and improve it immensley.. All they did was put the charges up and even have the audacity to charge for spectators.. Most of the staff were of foreign origin.. ( no I am not racist) but did notice that not many of them could talk English and certainly did not adhere to the height restrictions made out for young children.. Just an accident waiting to happen. Cheap labour and high costs to the public do not go down very well .. Unless it is just closing due to the end of the summer season.. Will it be ready for opening next summer ? Is the land leased to Blackpool Pleasure Beach from SMBC ? Lots of questions need answering. Somebody has to answer.. or is it.. pass the book time !

Rudra says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 07:07 PM

Will affect a lot of local families,very sad news

pezienda says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 07:13 PM

A good friend of mine was given notice today, he's been there for over ten years, my thoughts go out to all who have struggled to keep the place alive.

on a "lighter" note, what's happening with the fireworks ?

pedoja says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 07:20 PM

I can't agree that it has become an eysore.

The perimeter has been much improved and it has attracted loads of people.

However for the family who are just interested in a walk through, possibly to buy an Ice Cream and let their small children have a ride on one or two of the roundabouts/etc buy some fun items etc., it has become far too expensive.

Open it up again, let the family in without the non-riders having to pay, especialy with Splash World due to open in 2007. It must NOT be lost to Southport.

It is worth FIGHTING FOR.

Dr Evil says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Phil Rodwell says:
Surely Sefton Council must take some blame for this decision i.e. parking charges in the town, pedestrianisation, never ending gridlocked traffic in the town centre etc….etc

Such a predictable comment.

How about you do some *real* journalism and get to the bottom of why its closing instead of instantly blaming the "old enemy"? You might get taken seriously then, at the moment you sound like a broken record.

I agree with the others on here who say it shouldn't be allowed to just die, it's part of Southport that will be sorely missed.

2112 says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Phil Rodwell says: Tue 5th Sep 2006, 05:18 PM

Surely Sefton Council must take some blame for this decision i.e. parking charges in the town, pedestrianisation, never ending gridlocked traffic in the town centre etc….etc

Pictured below is Graham Haywood Chief Executive of Sefton MBC (front) with Geoffrey Thompson (middle) at an official ride opening.

Change the bloody record!

How sad for all those employees. I do hope it can be saved somehow.

I know the Traumatizer is only a recent thing, but it's part of the skyline now and I'd hate to see it go.

james9328643 says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 07:41 PM

couldn't agree more pedoja

karmacoma says:	Tue 5th Sep 2006, 07:41 PM

The Cyclone is an original wood tracked roller coaster. It opened at Pleasureland Southport in 1937. It's famous! Where will it end up? Blackpool or the next bonfire?
And who is likely to take over the lease on the land? Do the council have a plan? Not that I'm cynical....

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