Seaside town's 10,000-seat arena plan uncertain

Plans to turn a former seafront lido into a 10,000-seat arena could change after the local council began considering a more affordable future for the venue.

North Somerset Council has been deciding what to do with the derelict Tropicana building in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. Since May, it has been working on a proposal to turn the venue into an arena, with a 25-year lease deal with Live Nation.

Original plans to make a 10,000-seat venue would cost the council an additional £6.6m, and it is now proposing a space half the size.

Councillor Mike Bell said the new offer was based on "practicality and deliverability", while also recognising the impact of the venue on the surrounding area.

Some residents have expressed concerns about transport, parking pressures, the potential impact on the beach lawns and the wider seafront.

North Somerset Council's report reviewed a number of options for the Tropicana site but it still plans for the building to be a major events space that hosts community activities.

However, the council wants the space to be smaller, with the maximum capacity at 5,000 people.

Members of the council will make a decision on Tuesday, 10 November on what the local authority aims to contribute towards its 25-year lease deal with Live Nation.

If approved, the revised proposal could deliver a refurbished promenade building, including indoor event space, repairs to the sea wall and essential infrastructure improvements, modern facilities and improved accessibility.

The council said the recommended approach would try to strike a balance between the ambition for the Tropicana and the concerns raised by local people.

Bell continued: "Ultimately, this is about finding the right balance for Weston, being ambitious for the future of the Tropicana while making sure we deliver something that works for residents, visitors and businesses over the long-term."

The council said significant details of the revised offer would need further work to finalise its arrangement with Live Nation.

North Somerset council's deal with Live Nation was announced with great fanfare back in May.

Council leader Mike Bell called it a "game-changer" for Weston-super-mare, as he posed for photos alongside Eddie Kempsley from the multinational events promoter.

Even at the time, he acknowledged there was a £6m hole in the budget to transform the former lido, and he told me: "My expectation is that we're not looking for council tax payers to put money in."

Wherever the money was supposed to come from, it hasn't arrived. Negotiations with Live Nation appear not to have delivered the cash or certainty the council needs, and it seems it hasn't been possible to reduce costs.

And so the council is proposing a smaller venue instead - a cheaper bet, but one that comes with a significant risk that Live Nation might pull out.

The Tropicana is at the heart of the council's plans to improve the town - and it dared to dream that a big deal might be possible. There will be many hoping that a bright future is still ahead. But all the excitement may have been a little premature.

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