Exciting plans for a multi-million pound transformation of Pleasureland in Southport are underway with the signing of a strategic partnership between Sefton Council and Norman Wallis.



Sefton Council and Pleasureland owner, Norman Wallis, are delighted to announce today their agreement to work in partnership on the transformation of the site in the popular resort.


















A letter of intent has been signed which paves the way for both partners to work together to deliver a unique tourist attraction to support economic growth and deliver positive social outcomes in the town and across the wider borough.



It is hoped over the next 10 years it will see a radical transformation of the site, to deliver new indoor attractions, a revitalised amusement park and a new hotel. This will provide a unique experience for visitors all year round at one of the country’s most celebrated coastal resorts.



Together, Sefton Council and Mr Wallis aim to deliver a vision that is expected to support the creation of up to 1,000 new jobs over 10 years in the town, as well as adding more than £25million to the local economy each year.



The partnership will form part of the strategic vision for Southport’s tourism offer, which will include a range of projects across the areas adjacent to the site. This includes ongoing work on Southport Pier, The Southport Townscape Heritage Project which aims to enhance the quality and strength of the linkages between the town centre and the seafront and Sefton Council bidding for the Future High Street Fund for a Southport project.



Cllr Ian Maher, Labour leader at Sefton Council, said: “We have a great deal of respect for Norman Wallis, and for what he has done on the site and across Southport over the last decade.


“We are really enthused about the opportunity to work in partnership to deliver a project that will generate significant social and economic value for the town and for the wider borough.


“Today is all about an agreement to work together for the future with the Council lending full support to Norman.


“This vision aligns with the Liverpool City Region’s objectives for the tourism sector, and would help the positioning of the region on the national and international scene.


“The partnership will help support the delivery of a first-class customer experience for visitors and the eventual transformation will have significant knock-on effects for the town centre and Sefton as a whole.


“Our contribution to this success will also generate long-term and sustainable financial returns that can be reinvested in delivery of services across the borough.”



The vision also includes a museum to celebrate the heritage and the tourism element of the town. Mr Wallis’ family has been active on the site, and in Sefton’s tourist industry for more than 120 years, and this partnership aims to celebrate and continue that relationship.



Norman Wallis, Pleasureland’s Chief Executive, said: “The Council’s leadership and I share a vision for the site, for the town and for the borough that neither of us can achieve alone.


“I am extremely proud of my family’s history in the area for more than a century, and what I have accomplished since 2006, but I am even more excited about what the future holds.


“This is just the beginning of an exciting partnership that will build on the town’s reputation and thrust Southport into the national and international arena as a leading tourist destination.”

I have mixed feelings about this. It's great news for the town, but it smacks of hypocrisy when you think of Sefton's treatment of the Botanic Gardens. At least they have enlisted a proper businessman, unlike some of their other projects.

Anyway, Damien Moore will be along soon to claim credit for this.

About time they backed him. Good luck Norman.

Good luck to him but couldn't he find someone other than Sefton Council.

Their record doesn't inspire.

I know its their land or more properly ours, but...............

Get Sefton to give Norman a 99 year lease. His family here that long anyway, give or take a few years. How’s he supposed to get investors with a short lease. There are plenty investors world wide who would jump in with the Wallace’s if they had a long lease. Norman wants to build a hotel increase the footprint of Southports main/ only attraction worth advertising.” Which costs money”. Who else is is going to take it over. We could end up like Morcambe & Rhyl with no fair.. Unless you take a trek to Blackpool on a sunny day Which is to far and to expensive Southport is the answer. Full of eatery’s for all tastes and ages.Promot are town. I still think we should bring motor racing back to Southport beach it was what we were famous for years ago. The beach is doing nothing???only my and everyone I speak to opinion. Do councillors read local forums or just take photo opportunity’s to put on them?

Originally Posted by PENTHOUSEJOE

We could end up like Morcambe & Rhyl with no fair..

How on earth do you come to that conclusion in response to the article?

Originally Posted by PENTHOUSEJOE

Get Sefton to give Norman a 99 year lease. His family here that long anyway, give or take a few years. How’s he supposed to get investors with a short lease. There are plenty investors world wide who would jump in with the Wallace’s if they had a long lease. Norman wants to build a hotel increase the footprint of Southports main/ only attraction worth advertising.” Which costs money”. Who else is is going to take it over. We could end up like Morcambe & Rhyl with no fair.. Unless you take a trek to Blackpool on a sunny day Which is to far and to expensive Southport is the answer. Full of eatery’s for all tastes and ages.Promot are town. I still think we should bring motor racing back to Southport beach it was what we were famous for years ago. The beach is doing nothing???only my and everyone I speak to opinion. Do councillors read local forums or just take photo opportunity’s to put on them?

We almost ended up with no fair, the Council teamed up with the Thompsons, the owners of Blackpool Fair who promptly closed it down flogged half the rides to Margate and demolished the Historic Big Dipper even though it had listed status.

Originally Posted by Alikado

We almost ended up with no fair, the Council teamed up with the Thompsons, the owners of Blackpool Fair who promptly closed it down flogged half the rides to Margate and demolished the Historic Big Dipper even though it had listed status.

Pleasureland was run by the Thompson Family for many many years. It was only when the old man, who invested millions in it, died and his granddaughter took over that it was closed

Originally Posted by onehorsetown2

Pleasureland was run by the Thompson Family for many many years. It was only when the old man, who invested millions in it, died and his granddaughter took over that it was closed

The sun is forecast for next week. Go down the fair. Norman has got the place rocking.

all the best Norman.
I hope it works out well for you which in turn works out for Southport.

Originally Posted by onehorsetown2

Pleasureland was run by the Thompson Family for many many years. It was only when the old man, who invested millions in it, died and his granddaughter took over that it was closed

It was run by the Silcock Family, Thompsons invested nothing, they took it over to close it down.

Originally Posted by Alikado

It was run by the Silcock Family, Thompsons invested nothing, they took it over to close it down.

in 1981 Blackpool Pleasure Beach Company (BPB) leased the site (which included many tenanted rides and attractions) from Sefton Council. The new owners undertook to develop the park and introduced a number of new rides. However it took BPB until 2004 to acquire the entire site since almost half of the attractions and rides were still owned by tenants.