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'Disney' makeover for Alnwick Castle
Homes plan for Jersey
Former Disneyland Paris chief named new chief executive of Harry Potter castle
tourist attraction
The Living Legend attraction By Martin nash
in St Peter, Jersey, could be set
to close under plans unveiled by Christian Perdrier, the former
the park's owners in August to vice president of Disneyland
build 65 houses on the site. Paris, has been named as the
According to the Jersey Evening new chief executive at Alnwick
Post, the Lewis family said a fall Castle in Northumberland.
in tourism had led to the need His appointment is part of a
to seek an alternative use for move by the castle's owners,
the 5.5-acre (2.2-hectare) site, the Duke and Duchess of
which boasts a karting complex Northumberland, to increase
and two adventure golf courses. both visitor numbers and
Managing director Chris Lewis revenue at what is one of the
told the newspaper: "We are UK's largest inhabited castles. Alnwick's chief executive Christian Perdrier (left) with the Duchess
continuing to operate as a visitor Perdrier said: "Alnwick has
attraction for the foreseeable huge potential, with benefits complex of theme parks and The Duchess said that the
future. A decline in tourism has for both the Northumberland hotels in Dubai – will help to appointment of Perdrier as
forced us to look at alternatives." community and the North East transform the castle's fortunes. chief executive "can do for
as a whole. The castle and In addition to the castle – re- visitors to Alnwick what Walt
Weston pier revamp
garden attract tourists from nowned as the location for Disney has done for children
reaches landmark
around the world and we will Hogwarts School in the Harry and families all over the world.
Work has started on erecting ensure our new approach Potter films – the estate also "While we don't expect to
the frame of the new Pavilion benefits as many businesses in includes Alnwick Gardens, a convert the castle into the
building on the Grand Pier in the region as possible." separate enterprise containing Magic Kingdom, I greatly
Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. It is hoped that Perdrier, who the world's largest tree house. admire the Disney effect and
More than 100 tonnes of steel formed part of the Dubailand The two venues attract around look forward to seeing how we
per week will be used to form team in the Middle East – a 800,000 visitors a year. can attract visitors in the future."
the structure of the building,
which has been designed by
Bristol-based architect, Angus
Longleat unveils new attraction
Paultons Park hit
Meek. In total, more than 1,100
by planning blow
tonnes of steel is being supplied By Tom Walker
by local firm Hayley Engineering Paultons Park has been refused
for the restoration project. A new £1.3m interactive exhibit permission by the New Forest
– Animal Adventure – has been National Park Authority to keep
Lapland park pair
unveiled at Longleat Safari Park two rides it opened without
to face trial
near Warminster, Wiltshire. receiving planning consent.
Brothers Victor and Henry Featuring a number of As previously reported in
Mears will face trial over the themed, planted areas, Animal Leisure Opportunities, the
Lapland New Forest park, which Adventure is aimed at children Hampshire theme park was
caused uproar in December 2008. and has been designed to give forced to retroactively apply for
The pair are due to appear before visitors the chance to get closer permission for its existing Edge
Bournemouth Crown Court after to a number of animals. The new attraction is aimed and Cobra rides, which it
they pleaded not guilty to The featured areas include a at families and their children opened without the proper
misleading consumers at a recent Butterfly Garden, Rabbit World, planning permission.
magistrates' hearing. Established Guinea Pig Village and a new "The build has been compli- The rides are located on an
at Matchams on the Hampshire/ themed ferret enclosure. cated and we unreservedly area of land that has been used
Dorset border, the Lapland New Darren Beasley, head of the apologise that the attraction is for less than 10 years as an
Forest attraction – owned and Animal Adventure attraction, opening later than intended. amusement park and therefore
operated by the brothers – was said: "Animal Adventure will "We felt, however, that it was require separate applications to
forced to close after less than a allow us to take interaction with imperative to get the build the four other rides – located
week after more than 2,000 animals one step further as we absolutely right not just for the on an approved area of land
complaints were lodged with actively involve our visitors in welfare of the animals involved – which were constructed at
local councils and the RSPCA. keeper-led tasks. but also for the visitors." around the same time.
14 Read Leisure Opportunities online www.leisureopportunities.com/digital © Cybertrek 2009
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