One more hurdle for £37 million theme park plans

Planning board chairman Cllr Alan Atkin addresses local residents at the site visit. 170253-8

Gulliver’s 250-acre children’s attraction has now been referred to the secretary of state, who has 21 days to raise any objections before the application can be signed off.

Planning board members visited the former Pithouse West colliery site at Wales this morning (Thursday) before voting in favour of the proposal.

It follows more than a decade of disappointments, with the YES! Project and Visions of China failing to get off the ground.

The development will be built over 12 to 15 years, bringing 125 full-time jobs, 325 part-time plus more during construction.

The council has estimated that the attraction will be worth £11.6 million a year to Rotherham’s economy.

Gulliver’s managing director Julie Dalton said: “Everyone at Gulliver’s is very pleased with the council’s decision which takes us to the next stage of the planning process.

“We are confident that the secretary of state will recognise the enormous benefit of our plans to the Rother Valley area and the local community. Our plans would transform an area of Rother Valley that has been disused for many years.

“Gulliver’s Valley would be our fourth UK theme park resort, bringing together the best elements of our existing resorts in Warrington, Matlock Bath and Milton Keynes.”