Future uncertain for famous derelict seaside lido

A former seafront lido in Weston-super-Mare is facing an uncertain future after councillors decided to postpone a decision on a new operator for the site.

North Somerset Council had been expected to award event company Live Nation a contract to run the Tropicana - which was the home of Banksy's Dismaland bemusement park in 2015.

Instead, councillors voted to adjourn their decision until their next meeting on May 12, in the hopes of renegotiating a better contract.

But councillor Terry Porter said councillors were in "cloud cuckoo land" if they thought they could negotiate a contract in just three weeks and warned them that these plans could be the "last chance for the Tropicana".

Live Nation won a competitive tender process to be named the preferred operator to run the new 10,000 capacity Tropicana for 25 years, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

But the live events management company wanted to double the proposed capacity, make it a fully outdoor venue and have the council responsible for repairs.

At a meeting on Tuesday, councillor Mike Solomon, who is responsible for the project, said he could not support the proposals and planned to abstain from voting.

"We do have to be very mindful that when we commit to this - and when we commit to borrowing - that we do know what we are getting into," he said.

But council leader Mike Bell, said the original plans were "no longer deliverable" and urged councillors to approve the new contract and "secure the future of an iconic heritage asset".

"I believe we should focus not only on the risks but also the opportunity," he said.

Porter, also urged councillors to support Live Nation's plans, warning: "I think this is the last chance for the Tropicana."

However, councillor Bridget Petty, said: "If the cabinet member for this project is not convinced that he could vote for or against, how is that we, as a whole chamber of 50 members, can feel confident?."

The 1930s former lido closed as a pool in 2000.

Since then, North Somerset Council has run the Tropicana as an events space for hire but it has never covered its costs.

Following its refurbishment, the Tropicana was due to be reopened in 2028.

Live Nation were due to manage the venue over the next 25 years with a programme of major outdoor events between April and October.

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