Gloucester ski centre could become activity venue

Staff at Gloucester Ski and Snowboard Centre say it could be turned into a multi-activity venue if their bid to buy it is successful.

Owner Jupiter Hotels Ltd has announced it wants to sell the premises.

Staff said they wanted to introduce grass sledging, tobogganing and husky sleigh rides, as well as snowboarding and skiing.

They have launched a campaign to raise about £1.5m to buy the centre, which employs 51 people.

The centre, which has one of the UK's longest artificial dry ski slopes, was put up for sale by Ramada Jarvis in 2010 but it failed to find a buyer.

It was taken over by Jupiter Hotels when Ramada Jarvis went into liquidation in 2011 and is now up for sale again.

The plans also include the installation of new ski and snowboarding equipment and the installation of backup pumps for the watering system which they say would allow the slopes to "run well even on the hottest summer days".

Maintenance manager Simon Purchase said: "We are bursting with so many ideas to make the centre a major attraction for the area.

"We are all hoping that Jupiter Hotels will accept our offer so we can get started."

Staff say they expect to hear "within the next few days" whether their bid for it has been successful.