A REFRESH of children’s play facilities is being planned for Butlin’s holiday resort, in Minehead.
The company wants to replace an ageing miniature golf course and playground with a vibrant new ‘Skypark Playground’ modelled on one it installed in its Skegness resort last Easter.
It has submitted a planning application to Somerset Council which also includes a 1,600 sq ft covered extension to its Beachcomber restaurant to allow parents to eat while their children play nearby, and a Changing Places toilet for holidaymakers with complex care needs.
Planning agent Sam Garland, of Walsingham Planning, said Butlin’s attracted visitors to Minehead ‘in their hundreds of thousands per year’.
He said the supply chain included local services and suppliers, and a significant secondary spend could be derived by association, while Butlin’s also supported local sporting, training, and charitable trusts.
Mr Garland said the company had a desire to ‘develop ahead of public trends, ever influenced by expectation’, which meant constantly evolving to secure the long-term interests of its customer base and to drive new sales.
He said: “The new play area will provide fun, exciting, and stimulating experiences for families of all ages and abilities, provided to be accessible in all types of weather.
“In line with the Butlin’s values, the play area will deliver a space for ‘More Fun Altogether’, allowing parents and carers to play with their children, children of all abilities to play together equally, and children of different ages to play together safely.”
The Skypark facility would be split into two areas, one for younger children and one for ages six to 12 years.
The site was positioned in the heart of the resort, close to several restaurants and Butlin's key recreation offerings such as Centre Stage and the Studio 36 performance stage.
Mr Garland said the Skegness Skypark had been subject to ‘numerous accounts of positive feedback’.
“The proposed development will provide an exciting new amenity offering in the Butlin’s resort which will allow for its continued operation and help ensure visitor numbers remain at pre-Covid levels, making the resort more viable, securing local employment, and providing a boost to the local economy,” said Mr Garland.
He said Butlins's already included a wide range of attractions, such as a fairground, swimming pool, and its ‘Skyline Pavilion’, a large, enclosed canopy within the resort which played host to a number of facilities.
There were eight permanent ‘villages’, one apartment block, and a fully-licenced caravan park, and two staff villages providing accommodation for both permanent and seasonal employees.
Mr Garland said the changes would not have any effect on any property or premise owners within the immediate vicinity of the Butlin’s site.
The council is asking for any public comments on the planning application to be submited by October 24.