(31/05/2011)
Europe’s leading visitor attraction operator, Merlin Entertainments, has submitted a planning application seeking Council planning approval to build a £3m observation tower on the Festival Pier in Weymouth as part of Merlin's Attraction development Plan.
Merlin operates 24 attractions in the UK including two of England’s most iconic structures built specifically for the view they offer - the London Eye, and most recently the Blackpool Tower. Like them this new 53 metre high rotating tower will be designed not just as a landmark for Weymouth but for the country as a whole, giving 50 visitors a time a magnificent 10 minute 360 degree view of the town, the coastline, harbour and surrounding countryside.
The Tower has also been designed to ensure that it can be built and operating in just 12 months - by early July. Merlin believes the attraction will add a new dimension and provide an exciting, must-do memory of the town.
Merlin already knows the town well. The company has been operating one of its primary UK Sea Life attractions in Weymouth for more than 30 years – and this is also the central breeding and development centre for the global aquarium brand.
Commenting, Merlin Entertainments Divisional Director Midway Europe James Burleigh said:
“ We are very excited by the possibility of the observation project. Weymouth undoubtedly will get a great deal of attention and a huge influx of additional visitors around the Olympics; but we believe that this will generate much longer term interest in the town and what it has to offer; and that the new observation tower would provide an important new attraction for the town. The design we have chosen and our experience in operating observation attractions also means that Merlin is uniquely qualified for such a fast start project and we are certainly hoping that the people of Weymouth support the scheme and enjoy the Tower for years to come.