£50K boost brings Morecambe prom festival site ever closer

Land formerly home to The Dome, Bubbles and the Super Swimming Stadium will become an ‘Art Park’ thanks to a successful bid for Government cash.

The new and improved Bay Arena will play host to festivals, arts and leisure after work gets under way, hopefully later this year.

As part of a phased development the money will allow improvements to the current limited site access, restoration of art deco features, a public art commission and attractive landscaping works.

Mark Francois, Communities Minister. said The Bay Arena is one of 15 projects along the British coast benefitting from a share of £700,000.

Mr Francois said he hoped it would encourage a rise in visitors to seaside towns including Morecambe.

It was second time lucky with the grant bid for Lancaster City Council who unsuccessfully bid for cash last year.

The announcement also came earlier than the council expected.

Coun Janice Hanson, Cabinet member with responsibility for planning and regeneration, said the news was “fantastic” and would create “a leisure and recreational area that every member of the community can enjoy and be proud of”.

Two weeks ago The Visitor exclusively revealed that festival organiser David Brayshaw has booked the area for a major outdoor music festival in September 2017.

Mr Brayshaw hopes to book Madness and The Boomtown Rats for the event.