MUSEUMS & ATTRACTIONS IN BRIEF


Colwyn Bay pier revamp 'to cost £5.5m' A report compiled by


consulting engineers Posford DATRYS has revealed that it will cost £5.5m to renovate Colwyn Bay's historic pier. Findings from the Caernarfon-based company's appraisal of the attraction's structure were presented to the Colwyn Bay Pier Task and Finish Group earlier this month. Conwy County Borough Council is working with the Pier Pressure Group – a community group – in a bid to progress the renovation.


New-look museum reopens in St Albans A museum in St Albans,


Hertfordshire, has reopened its doors following a month-long closure to allow renovation work to be carried out. The Museum of St Albans has been remodelled to house the University of Hertfordshire's Margaret Harvey Gallery, which is to be unveiled in December. Sheila Burton, portfolio holder for culture and heritage for St Albans City and District Council, said: "Not only has [the museum] had a facelift, but the partnership with The Margaret Harvey Gallery will mean that exhibitions are held at a venue that will appeal to a broader range of people."


Trust to operate James Herriot attraction? A visitor attraction dedicated


to writer Alf Wright – better known as James Herriot – could be run by a charitable trust as part of plans being considered by the local authority. Hambleton District Council will examine the possibility of creating a new trust to run the World of James Herriot in Thirsk, North Yorkshire. Councillors decided against selling the attraction to a private sector company after talks with one unnamed party failed to produce a viable option.


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Weston's Grand Pier officially reopens Historic attraction returns to operation following Angus Meek-designed overhaul


By Tom Walker Weston-super-Mare's historic Grand Pier has reopened to the public – more than two years after it was damaged by fire. Bristol-based architect Angus


Meek is behind the design of the new-look attraction, which has undergone a £35m revamp led by John Sisk and Son. The 106-year-old Grand Pier


had been been due to reopen in the summer, but pier owner Kerry Michael confirmed that it would be ready in time for the half-term holidays. Michael said: "We are


confident that the new pavilion, with its state-of-the-art rides, attractions, function rooms and wedding venues will be a big hit with locals and tourists alike." A number of rides were


supplied by Gravitron as part of the multi-million pound redevelopment of the pier.


The attractions at Grand Pier include a 'robocoaster' and arcades The flagship ride is a 300m


(984 ft) long go-kart track on two levels – one of the largest of its type in the world – with 22 electric karts, two of which are twin-seaters and can travel at speeds of up to 70mph. Also installed are a 12.5m (41


ft) high twin slide helter-skelter as well as dodgems, a ghost train, a 'crazy house' with 36 fun obstacles, a mirror maze


Island 'too small' for theme park By Martin Nash


A report put before Tynwald – the Isle of Man parliament – has found that plans for a new island theme park are unviable. The report follows a motion


by Tynwald in July 2009 in which the Department of Tourism and Leisure (DTL) was requested to investigate ways of creating an attraction for younger children and families to complement island facilities available to other age groups. The DTL's enquiries included


approaches to K W Reader (Reader) – former owners of the island's Crescent Leisure Centre and operators of Dunes Adventure Island in South Shields – and operator Merlin Entertainments (Merlin).


Merlin said the island did not have the market for the plans


However, Reader had no


interest in discussing the proposal and Merlin indicated that – while it was always interested in new opportunities – a viable business case could not be made for one on the Isle of Man because it would be looking for a market size of more than seven million people within a two-hour drive.


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and a 'groovy house' contain- ing a psychedelic, three-dimen- sional light show. There are also two electric trains able to carry up to 32 passengers along the 400 metre (1,300 ft) pier. Other facilities at the


new-look Grand Pier include a pavilion, a 250-seat conference facility and a 90m (295.3ft) observation tower overlooking the North Somerset resort.


MOSI adds 4D effects theatre


The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester (MOSI) has launched a new 4D effects theatre as part of its strategy to add to the attraction's existing entertainment offering. Located in one of the five


revamped warehouse buildings which make up the museum's premises, the 30-seat theatre


– supplied by UK-based group Simworx – includes a custom grandstand seating structure constructed over original steps in the building. The theatre also incorporates


high definition projectors from Projection Design and the two films – Fly Me to the Moon and Pirate Story that have been chosen specifically by MOSI – have been supplied by nWave.


© Cybertrek 2010


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