‘Essential’ theme park ride backed (From York Press)

‘Essential’ theme park ride at Flamingoland backed

9:10am Monday 21st May 2012 in Ryedale news

FLAMINGOLAND is set to build a major new ride - a giant vertical swing.

Ryedale District Council’s planning committee is being recommended to approve the 46 metre-high ride despite objections from Pickering Town Council, which said it will create “an overly prominent structure in the landscape”.

However, Gary Housden, senior planning manager, said in a report to tomorrow’s meeting of the committee: “The impact of the development must be balanced against the benefits to the economy.

“The company employs 500 seasonal employees and has 80 full-time staff.”

He said the park’s management had said the new ride was not just desirable but essential because of the competition in the theme park world.

Mr Housden said Flamingoland’s existing rides were “an accepted feature on the landscape” and identify it as a major national tourist attraction.

He said Flamingo Land’s other big ride, The Cliff Hanger, went to a planning appeal because it had been covered in cladding and painted in red and white bands, which were later changed to a scheme more in keeping with the landscape. The colour of the new ride will also be subject to planning conditions, said Mr Housden.