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iN brieF
Jorvik Viking Centre reopens in York
New operations boss
New gallery and upgraded Viking-age village formed part of the £1m refurbishment
for Drayton Manor
Drayton Manor theme park in By Tom Walker
Staffordshire has appointed a
new park operations manager. The Jorvik Viking Centre in York
David Bromilow, who began his has reopened to the public,
career at Blackpool Pleasure following a £1m refurbishment.
Beach before working for Magic An entirely new gallery
Harbour theme park in Myrtle has been added and the
Beach, South Carolina, US and replica of a Viking-age village
then as a consultant, most has been upgraded. A number
recently worked for insurance of new artefacts, discovered
company SLE Worldwide as risk during diggings at the city's
control manager. Coppergate district, have also
gone on show.
Weston square revamp
Sarah Maltby, director of Television presenter Tony Robinson at the launch of the galleries
set for final phase
attractions at York Archaeo-
North Somerset Council has logical Trust, which operates what we think Viking-Age project included Ohio,
announced the start of the site, said: "The main thrust York looked like." US-based Life Formations
construction work on the final of the refurbishment this time Visitors can also get up close (animatronics), Clockwork
phase of a £3.9m scheme to is to make a reassessment of to some of the 1,000-year-old Digital (AV presentations),
transform Weston-super-Mare's the archaeology at Coppergate timbers which once formed the mechanical and electrical
Pier Square area. The first stage from which the centre grew wall of a Viking house and see, consultants White Young Green
of the project, which has more than 25 years ago. for the first time, some more and Glass Bending UK.
included the creation of a new "This enables us to relook at of the unique objects discov- The project has taken nine
road to link Marine Parade with who the Vikings were, why ered at the ancient site. months to complete with the
Carlton Street and provide they came here, and what The main contractor for the onsite build taking place
improved connections between evidence they left for us to project was RMA, while other between November 2009 and
the seafront and town centre for piece together to determine companies involved in the February 2010.
drivers, is due for completion
this month. Work due to be
carried out as part of the latest
Deadly new attraction for Cheshire
Education centre
phase will include the closure of
set for Exeter
the road from the resort's Grand By Martin Nash
Pier to Regent Street and the A new multi-million pound
landscaping of the area with new Dozens of the animal kingdom's outdoor education centre is set
seating and shrubs. most dangerous creatures are to to be created in the heart of
take up residence in Cheshire. Exeter, Devon, after the local
HLF support for
They will be occupying a new authority agreed to commit
Thinktank museum
attraction called Venom at the £2.7m towards the scheme.
Thinktank, Birmingham's Blue Planet Aquarium near Devon County Council plans
science museum, has progressed Ellesmere Port and include to fund the £5.7m Haven Banks
to the next stage of its bid for everything from black widow Giant tarantulas are among Outdoor Education Centre
nearly £1m from the Heritage spiders and venomous lionfish the species featured at Venom partly by proceeds from the
Lottery Fund after receiving a to stinging jellyfish and vipers. sale of Exeter Airport.
first round pass. The attraction Among a series of new one of the world's most lethal The council has already
has been handed £105,000 to displays is Tarantula Tower, fish; venomous vipers including contributed £170,000 towards
help draw up detailed plans as where visitors will be able to the eyelash viper and the white securing planning consent for
part of its bid for full Lottery step inside a perspex tower lipped tree viper; scorpions; the development, while final
support, which is earmarked for surrounded by more than 50 giant tarantulas; golden web negotiations are being carried
the creation of a new exhibition giant spiders. Venom will be spinning spiders and assassin out on the lease for the facility.
celebrating innovation and divided into three sections bugs. The new feature contains The centre will offer facilities
ingenuity across the city. The featuring marine creatures, so many potentially dangerous for people with disabilities and
new exhibition will comprise spiders and insects, and reptiles. creatures that staff at the aquari- minority groups and individu-
around 1,200 items from the Other displays will be home um have had to undergo als, including a climbing wall
museum's collections. to stonefish, considered to be emergency first aid training. and activities such as archery.
16 Read Leisure Opportunities online www.leisureopportunities.com/digital © Cybertrek 2010
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