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Freshen up the polo tower - or else
FRESHEN up the Polo Tower – that's the message from Lancaster City Council to the owners of Morecambe's giant former viewing attraction, because it is in far from mint condition.
Council officers have served a notice on owners Morrison's, ordering them to clean up the former Frontierland theme park tower because it looks a mess.
Inspect
The supermarket chain have deployed surveyors to inspect the site, scaffolding went up last week and the ensuing upgrade of the Polo Tower is expected to be finished by October.
At this stage Morrison's are unable to confirm exactly what these renovations will entail.
But they have ruled out re-opening the tower for its original use – as a revolving 'ride' with platform views overlooking Morecambe Bay.
The 168 foot tall Polo Tower, erected in 1994 and opened in 1995, was a half-million pound investment by then-Frontierland owners Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
The design was as a result of a sponsorship deal between Polo and Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Although initially the tower proved popular it soon fell into disuse and a state of disrepair.
Last October, Labour's Coun Ron Sands called for residents to boycott Polo mints until the shabby tower was pulled down because it was "neither a credit to Morecambe's spectacular seafront promenade nor the nation's favourite mint".
But Morrison's have a contract with a telecommunications company to use the Polo Tower as a mast until 2013.
Outline planning permission was granted in November 2005 for a mixed-use development on the derelict Frontierland site, at the same time as permission was granted for the Next, Homebase and JJB outlets which opened earlier this year.
The council has since received no specific plans for this development – which would include a hotel and residential flats – and the site remains partly covered by a mound of rubble.
greg.lambert@lmnews.co.uk
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Weather for Morecambe
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
