Splash World (pictured) is a multi-million pound extension to the Dunes Leisure Centre forecast to attract around a quarter of a million visitors in its first year and have a major impact on the Southport economy.

The council-run attraction has been kitted out by Van Egdom from the Netherlands and will include a 4-lane multi slide, tube ride, lazy river, aqua arch, mushroom, turtle slide and a custom-made water playground. A number of the slides will incorporate Van Egdom’s new Tube Sensations lighting effects. Also featured will be a 25-metre main pool, poolside refreshment area and a large spa. The temperature inside the undercover facility will be a constant 85ºF (30ºC).

The waterpark is located across the road from the old Pleasureland site, which closed last September after Blackpool Pleasure Beach pulled the plug on its operation there. Since emptied of nearly all of its old rides, it will open up again this summer as the Euro Attractions Park featuring a number of travelling rides and additional attractions like paintball and laser tag.

Sefton Borough Council has signed am 18-month lease with operator Norman Wallis of Dreamstorm, covering the next two seasons. The contract was signed on May 22 and since then Wallis and his team have spent most of the time cleaning up the site. The Euro Attractions Park is expected to open in time for the summer holidays in July and will then stay open for the remainder of the season.

Rides will be operated on tokens and, notably, entry to the park will be free. Pleasureland suffered a drop in attendance from 2.1 million to 500,000 when it introduced a mandatory admission charge in 2005, according to figures from VisitBritain.

“This land is in a crucial strategic position and it is only right that we take some time to ensure we get the best possible development for the town,” says Sefton Council's head of tourism and ex-Pleasureland manager, Tony Corfield. “We have always said we will look for a short-term attraction while that work is going on.”

The Council has not decided on a final use for the site, but it will be leisure-based. Wallis is convinced the resort in general has great prospects, and hopes to play his part in its future. “Southport has the right product and is not just seasonal any more either. There were 11 million visits to the resort in 2005 and it was very busy last weekend even before the new attractions had opened.”

Dreamstorm is also working on a number of ideas for attractions in Blackpool.

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