What price historic funfairs?

[Gareth Hughes]

As some of you might know, "Pleasureland" at Southport closed, suddenly, last week. (It had been bought out by Blackpool Pleasure Beach many years ago, who made a fair fist of running it but...).
Never the most glamorous of seaside funfairs, it did, nonetheless, have a distinct period charm, and some of its rides were highly regarded by enthusiasts worldwide (I'm really not joking, do a google groups search for it - the Fun House with the last surviving "human roulette wheel" in the world was especially loved by American rollercoaster, etc, experts who spent holidays "doing" the UK's fairs and theme parks), for their old-world (and safety-belt-free) charm.
Today, apparently without warning, workmen with chainsaws made a start on destroying the 1937 "Cyclone" rollercoaster, one of the oldest working "woodie" rollercoasters in the UK - pictures (and HEATED comment) here:
http://www.southportforums.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=50365006
:evil:
Funfair rides have never been "high end" architecture (there is only one listed rollercoaster in the UK), but if the current owners can do this, what hope for the larger collection of historic (but unlisted) rides at Blackpool, which - until the death of Geoffrey Thompson, grandson of the founder - were held in high regard by the management? And what hope for the other unique attractions of Southport?
Nemesis, a call to arms, if you please. I'd hate to see the whole lot go the same way as the attractions of Scarborough (is that lethal water-splash still there?).

 

[Nemesis]

Well SAVE added its voice to the Dreamland campaign...


http://www.joylandbooks.com/scenicrailway/comments.htm


''SAVE Britain's Heritage wholly supports the efforts of the Save Dreamland Campaign to retain and reuse Margate's 1920 roller coaster, the oldest in the UK. Although structures such as this represent an important part of the country's social history, as well as being thoroughly delightful, they are little cared for and their interest and importance little understood. It is vital that this roller coaster is saved for not only its great interest, but also for the pleasure it has yet to give so many."
Adam Wilkinson
Secretary
SAVE Britain's Heritage

But it looks as though it's too late to save this roller coaster, and as one is already listed that will be that - EH seems now to be taking the view that it is 'selective' and only 'the best examples' of a building type are being listed regardless. It's a very bad policy which means many buildings important to smaller towns and villages are now totally unprotected.

I don't know about the Scarborough watersplash - scary I do recall from my childhood!

Not sure what can be done - except rage against the dying of the light.

When the government itself is happy to rip out the interior of a II* listed building (Middlesex Guildhall) to suit its own policies, what hope for places like Pleasureland?

The future of our historic seaside towns looks like this apparently:

http://www.brightonmarinafuture.co.uk/

We tried for a call in but it was refused.


Yet I agree - the period charm is something which draws so many. Look at the wonderful Saltburn, with its Victorian seaside atmosphere and the funicular railway.

Blackpool's future I have no doubt will be as a mega casino resort, and the fact that it is the lights and its general air of the past, trams, candy floss, rude postcards and all, which is its attraction, will escape those hell bent on development.

I despair really.


Evelyn

 

[plumbers mate]

Unfortunately if it doesn't make money it must go - large structures do need maintenance and someone has to pay it eg as in the old churches, one of which is for sale.
If something like the Cyclone was left and started rotting and bits falling off and hitting people or kids climbing on it and falling off etc there would be Hell to pay from most of Society.

It's a very difficult problem and although personally I hate to see things destroyed I can see the reason why they are destroyed.

It hurts to say it but until we have a society willing to pay for the preservation of such structures without any financial return from them it would seem that there is no alternative.

Very sad.

 

[Nemesis]

I suspect tha problem is poor management which failed to capitalise on the inherent charm of the place allied to the fact the land is valuable - so anything which gets in the way will have to go.


No-one has been given the chance to dismantle it - not ideal I appreciate but better than firewood.

 

[Nemesis]

I note the quote:




'Onthesport today contacted Sefton Council for a comment on the matter: Chris Owen of Sefton Council Communications Dept said ”We only speak to recognised media and southport.gb.com are not media.'



Hmmmm....

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Unfortunately if it doesn't make money it must go - large structures do need maintenance and someone has to pay it eg as in the old churches, one of which is for sale.
If something like the Cyclone was left and started rotting and bits falling off and hitting people or kids climbing on it and falling off etc there would be Hell to pay from most of Society.

It's a very difficult problem and although personally I hate to see things destroyed I can see the reason why they are destroyed.

It hurts to say it but until we have a society willing to pay for the preservation of such structures without any financial return from them it would seem that there is no alternative.

Very sad.

Yes, but the fair closed (without warning) on September 5th, the owners are now starting to demolish, less than two weeks later. No opportunity to look for other operators (therefore no chance of a rival to Blackpool).

Blackpool's old management were very aware of the history of their rides (one dates from 1904), the new management are quoted in news stories after the closure of Southport, as follows:

"We're trying to preserve the Pleasure Beach by making it leaner, meaner and keener and more efficient. We need to ensure we have a product that people want. After the next two months we will be a really slick operation that is set up to cope with the economic climate and move forward into the next chapter."

Pure management speak which means "make it like Alton Towers". The whole point of Blackpool Pleasure Beach (and Southport Pleasureland) is that they aren't pre-packaged, compulsory-fun-by-order type places. The economic argument doesn't really stack up:

"Accounts filed at Companies House show Pleasure Beach (Holdings) Ltd reported a profit after tax of £2.1m in the year to March 2005, against a £90,000 loss for the previous year. However, Pleasureland saw a slump in visitors from 2.1m in 2004 to just 500,000 last year after introducing a £2 admission fee. Even so, it still remained the North West's fourth most visited tourist attraction."

Something fishy going on here, beyond mere economics.

bit more here:
http://www.nw-enquirer.co.uk/business/inside_edge/inside_edge_-_thursday_september_14_2006_200609141689.html

In the year to March 2005 Blackpool Pleasure Beach (Holdings), the parent, generated pre-tax profits of £2.6m on revenues of £42.2m. But the bulk of the profits came from insurance payouts on a couple of amusement park fires.

And here:
http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=17751587&method=full&siteid=50061&headline=residents-alarmed-as-workers--dismantle--historic-ride-name_page.html

 

[Nemesis]

A couple of new pics on the forum

http://www.southportforums.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=50365006


and these posts:



Mr. Brightside says:
Fri 15th Sep 2006, 08:53 AM


In today's Visiter:

Councillor David Tattersall - deputy leader of Sefton Council
"the ride that is most iconic and of the most importance to the site is the Cyclone...it is something that has got to be saved"

Graham Heywood - chief executive of Sefton Council
"being able to market a 30 acre seafront site is a massive opportunuty for us. My view is that it will not be another amusement park"

So who's running this council? The democratically elected councillors or their hired help?





troy says:
Fri 15th Sep 2006, 08:57 AM




Demolition such as this has to be done under CDM Regulations (Control Design Management). In order to comply, firstly, YOU HAVE TO NOTIFY THE LOCAL COUNCIL USING AN F10 FORM. Was this done ? They in turn would notify HSE whilst the contractors have tto conduct a risk study and produce a written method statement of how the demolition will be achieved safely.

My guess is, if the penny pinching rumours are true, then yesterdays "workmen" are direct employess of BPB told to just go down and cut it up. If that is the case then they are breaking every rule in the book !!




cuddly-koala says:
Fri 15th Sep 2006, 09:00 AM


looking at the photos i know they ARE blackpool staff.
i wonder if they have chainsaw licenses?

 

[Nemesis]

Picture last night:

Of course another fire would make another huge insurance payout... plenty of wood here.

 

[Nemesis]

Here's more about historic rollercoasters:

http://www.joylandbooks.com/scenicrailway/index.htm

and the report which got that listed:

http://www.joylandbooks.com/scenicrailway/scenicrailway.pdf

and to add:

http://www.c20society.org.uk/docs/building/current.html

 

[Nemesis]

International shockwave:

http://www.coastersandmore.de/previews/pleasureland/pleasureland.shtml

 

[Nemesis]

And it's great to see how many are making waves.

The forum at http://www.southportforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50365006&page=1&pp=30

had this post today (yes you saw it here first and SAVE was on the case first thing but it's good to see others campaigning too)



tibsy says: Fri 15th Sep 2006, 05:07 PM


I myself have contacted SAVE Britain's Heritage and have received this reply:

Thanks for that. I spoke to the director of planning at Sefton (Andy
Wallis), he said he had sent an officer down to Pleasureland this morning
and was told nothing was happening.....which is strange, certainly not what
the photos seem to suggest.
Apparently English Heritage have intimated that the Edwardian sections have
been altered considerably and would not merit protection. Director seems to
think that owners who also run the Pleasure Beach at B'pool are likely to
move the parts of the park they deem worth salvaging to B'pool.
He thought Cyclone would not be included, too impractical. So it either
stays and sold to new theme park operators or it is destroyed completely.
Will try and contact owners and also English Heritage.
Please keep me posted of anything you hear. The Guardian is also interested
in running a story.
Regards
David


This is the 'nothing' which happened yesterday:

 

[Nemesis]

This may be a good spot to post this:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/britain/article/0,,1250259,00.html

 

[Nemesis]

Update:

SAVE contacted the local authority and EH Friday.

Others also contacated EH with regard to seeing if spotlisting is possible.

There is growing oppostion against the destruction of Cyclone - including a protest on Monday morning - brilliant!

TV has filmed and it's been on local news.

A drive past protest is planned for tomorrow evening.


English Heritage Listing Inspector arrived first thing Monday - and was refused admission to the site!

A report has been written regardless, and hopefully a spotlisting decision will be made as soon as possible - if there is anything left by then. It is a disgrace that local people who would like to buy the site and keep it running are being denied that chance.

It would seem that the local authority isn't too happy with the fair - and wants a different sort of seaside town. Bit like Brighton Marina possibly?

The loss of jobs and destruction of the local economy didn't appear to bother the Director of Tourism.

Meanwhile the chainsaws are still at work...


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[Open Image] [Hosted by PhotoGalaxy.com]



[Open Image] [Hosted by PhotoGalaxy.com]

 

[Nemesis]

http://periodpropertyshop.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6586

Roller coaster for sale...

 

[Nemesis]

SAVE has sent a statement of support

http://www.southport.gb.com/

 

[Nemesis]

And a wider Press Release




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PRESS RELEASEIMMEDIATEPRESS RELEASE20thSeptember 2006

DEMOLITION OF HISTORIC ROLLERCOASTER MUST STOP Demolition work has started on the unlisted 1937 Cyclone rollercoaster in Southport’sPleasure Land amusement park. Pleasureland was closed earlier this year by its owners, Blackpool Pleasure Beach. The Cyclone rollercoaster is one of only five remaining pre-war timber rollercoasters in the UK, and one of nine built before 1960. (In total, 127 were built before 1960, the majority demolished in the ‘60s and ‘70s). It is a classic figure-of-eight with a maximum height of 60ft and a top speed of 42mph SAVE is calling for this wonderful structure, by Charles Page of the Pennsylvania Roller Company to be preserved and re-use, and for the owners of the park to cease their scorched earth policy. SAVE’s Secretary, Adam Wilkinson, said “We are horrified at the mindless vandalism of the historic Cyclone rollercoaster. The rollercoaster is an importantsurvival of an increasingly rare type of historic structure” "The chainsaws must stop and English Heritage must be allowed on site to inspect thestructure for listing. It is in our view eminently worth preserving and has plenty more thrills to give willing punters. It is a beautiful and intricate structure, like a cat’s cradle, made from 100,000 ft of timber.” “Structures such as this are of great interest in their own right, as well as holding great meaning for the many people they have given thrills and scares to.” ENDS

Contact Adam Wilkinson, SAVE Britain’s Heritage 0207 253 3500

Peter Crompton, Save the Cyclone campaign 07989 551113 Images – see page 2 of release
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[Nemesis]

Latest report of demo and pics:

See the video link - great stuff!

http://www.southportforums.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=50365239


CYCLONE DEMO VIDEO TONIGHT COPYRIGHT SOURHPORT.GB.COM

 

[Nemesis]

Sad to watch this video though of happy days on Cyclone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R9ip2yrYv8