Scarborough Alpamare: Preferred operator announced for waterpark

Leisure operator Flamingo Land says it aims to reopen Scarborough's Alpamare in time for the summer season

A preferred operator for a waterpark in Scarborough whose previous owner went into administration has been announced.

North Yorkshire Council said it would work with leisure firm Flamingo Land to reopen the Alpamare site in time for the summer season.

The operator, based near Malton, said it aimed to get the £14m park running in time for the school holidays.

Gareth Dadd, the council's deputy leader, said he was "delighted" to name Flamingo Land as preferred operator.

The site was taken over by the authority in December after Benchmark Leisure Ltd went into administration.

Members of the authority's executive made the decision to appoint Flamingo Land as its preferred bidder on Tuesday following a three-week tender process seeking potential operators.

Gordon Gibb (left) and Gareth Dadd (right) made the announcement at the Alpamare site in Scarborough

Mr Dadd said: "As a council, we never intended to run this ourselves, but instead to find an operator with the right expertise to take it on and get it reopened for the summer season.

"It is a key visitor attraction on Scarborough's North Bay and makes a telling contribution as a commercial tourism venture.

"It is great to be looking to work with a well-established, local and trusted operator."

Councillors were told that Flamingo Land bosses planned to have the park open from the summer until November, before then reviewing operating costs and plans for the winter season.

Analysis: Richard Edwards, BBC North Yorkshire Political Reporter

North Yorkshire Council never wanted to run a waterpark - and Alpamare was never meant to be in public hands.

But - after the park's former owner went bust, owing millions to the public purse - the Northallerton-based council had little choice but to step in.

The other option - a £14m park that was meant to be a tourism crown jewel slowly rusting away - wasn't really an option at all.

Pressure from Scarborough pool users - and coastal based politicians - sped things up, leading to the announcement that Flamingo Land was the preferred bidder to take the park on.

Boss Gordon Gibb set a target of late July to be back in business - in time for the school holidays and the crucial summer season.

That target is just a few weeks away, but both sides seem confident this public and private partnership can be made to work.

If the gates are open by then - the test will be how many swimmers are going down those brightly coloured slides.

As senior councillor - and finance man - Gareth Dadd put it, Alpamare must be able to "wash its own face".

The council said Flamingo Land had been appointed on a short-term contract to run the £14m park, which opened in 2016 and which has indoor and outdoor pools, waterslides, spa and a cafe.

Gordon Gibb, Flamingo Land's chief executive and owner, said it was "an exciting new venture" for the firm.

"It's a big challenge for us, but we are always up for a challenge at Flamingo Land. We aim to get Alpamare open to the public again in July," he added.

The company, whose theme park includes a zoo and holiday homes that attracts thousands of visitors every year, has previously run Pleasure Island in North East Lincolnshire.