BLACKPOOL Pleasure Beach's bid to take over the loss-making Sandcastle leisure complex is worth pursuing, says the council's leader.

Coun Ivan Taylor, who heard Pleasure Beach boss Geoffrey Thompson's ideas for developing "an upmarket attraction" on the seafront fun-pool site last week, said: "It's very much at outline stage at the moment.

"We're seeking tenants initially for the 'dry' side since Granada has closed its Magic of Coronation Street attraction, but we're interested in any offers that come in. We did have a preliminary chat with Mr Thompson and we will pursue it."

Coun Taylor is a director of the Blackpool Operating Company, which had to step in to run the 15-year-old attraction when original operator Sunley Turriff ran into heavy losses - which have continued, mounting to £480,000 last year.

Blackpool Council, as landowner, collects the rent but still ended up paying £60,000 to cover Sandcastle losses last year.

The Citizen revealed last week that Mr Thompson was very interested in taking on the whole site "for a peppercorn rent" to develop a new upmarket attraction.

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