ALL WHITE TAXIS
SOUTHPORT & FORMBY
16 February 2022
Vol 29 Issue 7
www.champnews.com
John joins lifesaving campaign
INSIDE THIS WEEK:
CASH OR CARD IN ALL CARS Huge bang over town was sonic boom!
COVE RESORT SCHEME STEP NEARER REALITY Council awarded £2.2m compensation after Splash World was forced to close
Report by Tom Martin AN AMBITIOUS plan to create a ‘world class water attraction’ could be built in Southport within the next three years. The Champion reported in 2020 how Sefton Council announced an exclusive agreement with Go Surf to create The Cove Resort - an all yearround attraction with an exciting surf wave pool at its heart. Since then progress has been hampered by the pandemic, but it seems as though the plans are starting to gather pace. A ‘pre-application’ proposal has been submitted to the local authority and if agreed it would then proceed to a full planning application. This process could take up to 12 months and then a further two years for construction - meaning Cove Resort could become a reality in 2025. A team of international experts have also been hired, including architects Leonard Design, construction consultants WWA, and wave providers Whitewater West. The Cove Resort would be situated on the seafront on the land between Ocean Plaza and Pleasureland. The project, a private sector devel-
How the Cove Resort could look
opment on a Sefton Council-owned site, will also include water-based wellness and spa facilities, 4-star accommodation, casual dining and indoor leisure facilities. A stunning 250m long beach coupled with a 360-degree boardwalk and planted gardens are among the other ideas being mooted. The council has previously described the scheme as ‘using the next generation of surf pool technology ’ which will make waves that can reach over two meters for accomplished surfers, to just 0.5 meters for
those who prefer ‘fun’ waves. Creating up to 120 new jobs and bringing more than £20 million per annum to the local economy with an expected 150,000 client visits a year, Southport Cove, say the council, will complement the other exciting opportunities emerging in the town, as part of the Southport Town Deal and beyond. The news comes a week after the Champion revealed plans were being stepped up to create the new Marine Lake Events Centre, also expected to cost around £75m.
THE closure of Southport’s Splash World in 2019 due to “significant health and safety concerns” has resulted in Sefton Council being awarded £2.2million after a successful claim against the original developer. The water park, which is still closed due to delayed repair works, was shut three years ago due to tiles coming detached from the pool wall and floor, parts of the concrete flume tower staircase failing and failures in the steel frame coating (paint) system. The cost of the work, combined with the loss of earnings, saw the council seek compensation from the developer. A council report published ahead of an Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on Tuesday, February 22, reveals how the local
authority was awarded £2.2m by an independent adjudicator. However, the money was not paid within a seven-day deadline, so the council is now pursuing the claim through the courts. In the report, Cllr Ian Moncur, the council’s health and wellbeing cabinet member, said: “The legal aspects of a latent defects claim against the original developer have been considered by an adjudicator. Cont. p5
“They worked until dark most days and left things clean and tidy, I couldn’t fault them. Thank you for making my home warm and more sustainable.” Netherton Resident
FREE SOLAR PV, LOFT AND CAVITY WALL INSULATION www.sefton.gov.uk/retrofit COMBINED AUTHORITY
Find out if you are eligible for FREE SOLAR PV, LOFT AND CAVITY WALL INSULATION
THE UK’S LARGEST LETTERBOX CIRCULATION BY AN INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER! 129,784
CHAMPION SERIES
JAN-DEC 2021 100% FREE