Big wheel set to return to Scarborough seafront as council look to use Futurist site again

Last year, a 32-metre high wheel operated on the site of the former Futurist Theatre on Scarborough’s seafront throughout the summer season.

The borough council has now revealed that a tender has been put out to operate a wheel once more in 2020.

The council’s cabinet member for Economy, Communities and Commercial, Cllr Liz Colling (Lab) will be asked to approve the lease of the land on Friday (28th).

A report, prepared for Cllr Colling, states: “It is proposed that the wheel and adventure golf will be brought to site on the 23 March and will be erected over 13 days.

“The proposed tenant will then operate the wheel and ancillary concession initially for 28 days without planning consent from the 4 April to 1 May 2020.

“Upon approval of this report, the proposed tenant will submit a planning application to seek consent to occupy the site for the duration of the lease period.

“The proposed tenant has already passed the required credit checks and the relevant health and safety certification for the wheel has been provided.”

The report adds that a tender process for the site finished in February.

It will mean the council is one more making temporary use of the seafront site as the authority examines its deal with Flamingo Land for the land.

The theme park operator was given preferred bidder status for the Futurist site following its £4.5m demolition, though, following a review of the council’s decision-making process a task group has been set up to look at what the best use of the land would be.

The decision likely spells the end of Flamingo Land’s hopes to build its attraction which would have included a 60m-high “Cliffhanger” ride, a rollercoaster, and a four-storey building housing restaurants and play areas.