Price hike at Weston-super-Mare water park

CHARGES to use Weston-super-Mare's water park are to rise by 50 per cent this summer.

Weston Town Council, which operates the waterpark at Park Place, is to increase the charges from £1 to £1.50 from May 1 until August 31.

The waterpark, which opened in 2010, has been a huge success and during the peak season sees around 1500 visitors a week.

Money raised from the ticket price rise will be used to employ an additional attendant during the main season to help run the water park.

Weston Town Council clerk Malcolm Nicholson said: "We feel this is a very modest increase and that the water park is the best value attraction in the town at £1.50 for each child.

The  waterpark opens from 10am to 6pm and is free after 4pm to allow local schoolchildren to visit at no cost after class during term time.

The water park - the first of its kind in North Somerset  - cost £435,000 and was installed as an added attraction for residents and the millions of tourists that flock to the resort each year.

It is open all year round for dry play, but becomes a water park during the warmer Spring and summer months.

The water park, on the former putting green next to Maderia car park, features 10 different pieces of play equipment which shoot out jets of water, fountains and a splash pad.

There is also be a separate dry play area with a wooden castle with a tower, climbing boulders, play sand and an aerial rope slide.

The new attraction was funded by a £125,000 Government Seascape grant  and a loan borrowed by the town council from the Public Works Loan Board.