Posted: Wed 7th Apr 2021

Plans lodged SkyFlyer balloon attraction on the former Rhyl Sun Centre site

News and Info from Deeside, Flintshire, North Wales
This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Apr 7th, 2021

Plans have been lodged with Denbighshire council for the SkyFlyer balloon attraction on the former Rhyl Sun Centre site. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A viewing platform, slung 15m below the helium filled balloon, will see passengers raised up almost twice as high as the town’s Sky Tower. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

It is promising 360° views reaching from Moel Famau to the Great Orme in Llandudno – and all the way to Liverpool on a clear day – as it is winched upwards. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The attraction will be placed on a concrete slab on the land, belonging to the local authority’s arms-length company Denbighshire Leisure Ltd, and is expected to open next year. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Sean Taylor, owner and founder of Zip World, will operate the new ride under the name Skyscaper World Ltd. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

It will be able to take passengers up to 125m (410ft), whatever the weather conditions, in its 5.3m (17ft) long gondola. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The balloon will be stationed next door to the Pavilion Theatre’s 1891 bar and restaurant with a meet and greet office and toilet block also being built on site. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

It would remain inflated apart from when storms are forecast, so the site will be surrounded by a 3m high green, chain-link fencing for security. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The company which created the SkyFlyer is owned by Swedish balloon adventurer Per Lindstrand. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The planning statement submitted with the application shows it will operate all year round,  seven days a week from 8am to 10pm. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The £2M investment will create seven full-time, four part-time and five casual full-time (five months of the year) jobs. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A noise assessment ordered by planning officers and carried out by a consultant on behalf of the applicants showed “the level of noise generated by the site at the closest residential dwellings will result in a negligible noise impact”. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Noise will come from the winch, fans and gearbox which lets out the SkyFlyer and draws it back towards ground. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The planning statement said: “The proposed development would be the only operational SkyFlyer balloon attraction in the world, providing a unique selling point opportunity for Rhyl. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Sean Taylor is passionate about supporting and leaving a lasting legacy for local communities. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Given Rhyl’s connection with one of two main air shows in Wales, which has grown since the first event in 2009 along the entire promenade, Sean sees Rhyl as a ‘sleeping giant’ with huge potential for the tourism sector in North Wales.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

  ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

By Jez Hemming – Local Democracy Reporter ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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