MUSEUMS & ATTRACTIONS

IN BRIEF

£10m expansion for Staffordshire park

A £10m redevelopment is being

planned for the Waterworld indoor waterpark in Stoke-on- Trent, Staffordshire. The project is the brainchild of entrepreneur Mo Chaudry – who was featured on Channel 4's Secret Millionaire – and includes plans for two new restaurants, a health and fitness suite, a beach area, a wellness centre that includes beauty treatments and saunas, as well as an interactive children's play area. The 35,000sq ft (3,252sq m) expansion is set to increase the waterpark's total area to 105,000sq ft (9,755sq m).

Museum of Oxford future under spotlight

Oxford City Council (OCC) has

unveiled a public consultation to gather comments from local residents regarding the future of the Museum of Oxford. The council is conducting a review into the museum to see how it can be best adapted to modern techniques and how displays can be enhanced to represent the city's history. Feedback from the consultation aims to help OCC find out what residents think about the museum's exhibits, services and facilities, while a bid for Lottery funding towards a revamp is also being prepared.

British Library to digitise newspapers

Around 40 million pages from

the national newspaper collection are to be digitised as part of a project unveiled by the British Library and brightsolid. Three centuries' worth of articles from 52,000 local, regional, national and international titles will be put online as part of a 10-year deal between the library and the online publisher. It is hoped the digitisation will help to safeguard the future of the British Library's archive.

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Event appointed to Cumbrian scheme

London-based firm to work on exhibition designs for Roman Maryport attraction

By Pete Hayman

Event Communications has been appointed to design a new visitor attraction to be sited at Roman Maryport, Cumbria – part of the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site. Hadrian's Wall Heritage

(HWH) – a non-profit organisa- tion – acquired 150 acres (60.7 hectares) of land at Camp Farm in December 2008 for the £11.5m museum development. Roman Maryport is poised to

be the first in a number of linked attractions stretching along the Wall Corridor. The new attraction, which is

due to be completed in early 2012, will explore the role of Hadrian's Wall, the importance of the Maryport fort in western sea defences and life at the fort. Event will work on the

exhibition and interpretative designs for the museum, which

The £11.5m museum development will be completed in early 2012

will be centred on the former Senhouse Roman Museum and a proposed new extension. Flexible display elements will

be reconfigured as discoveries are made through excavations of the 2nd century fort and a civilian settlement spread outside the fort's walls. Event co-founder Steve

Simons said: "Roman Maryport represents a key link in a chain

Isle of Man bids for WHS status

By Martin Nash

Manx National Heritage (MNH) is making a bid to have two of the Isle of Man's historic sites designated as UNESCO's World Heritage Sites (WHS), a move which the island's Council of Ministers has backed. The UK has opened up bids

for the first time in 10 years and MNH now has to meet a June deadline for applications. The sites include Tynwald Hill,

one of the world's oldest continuous parliamentary sites dating back to the 9th century, and the Laxey valley, an area which contains a number of historic industrial sites. UNESCO looks for evidence

of traditions continuing to be relevant to the present day and

of attractions which highlight the importance of Britain's Roman Heritage." HWH sustainable develop-

ment director Michael Baker added: "Roman Maryport will lead the way in setting the standard for the visitor experience in Hadrian's Wall Country, running across the country from Newcastle to the Solway Firth."

New galleries for London attraction

The Museum of London has unveiled five new galleries, following the completion of a major £20m refurbishment. London-based Wilkinson

Laxey Wheel forms part of the prospective Laxey valley WHS

for sites to be protected. In Laxey, the Manx Electric Railway, the Snaefell Mountain Railway, Laxey Wheel, Laxey Flour Mill and Laxey Woollen Mill are all still operational. A conservation area has been

put in place and the Laxey Wheel is currently managed by MNH, the Manx Museum and National Trust.

Read Leisure Opportunities online www.leisureopportunities.com/digital

Eyre Architects worked in partnership with the museum's in-house design team to transform the display spaces. New attractions include the

City Gallery – a space housing the Lord Mayor's Coach; The Weston Theatre – a space for films and performances; and the Clore Learning Centre, a 220-seat lecture theatre. The Sackler Hall features a

48m (157ft) LED curtain and can be used as an events space, while a recreation of a Victorian Pleasure Garden features real trees and starry skies.

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