A £20m “flying theatre” could be built in the centre of Bootle under plans being considered by Sefton Council to help regenerate the area.
The project, a much larger version of a fairground simulator ride, would be intended to provide a leisure attraction for the area to go along with the food, drink and events space currently under construction on Bootle’s canalside.
The theatre could offer a “Fly Over Britain experience” as well as shows on the history of Bootle and the wider region, according to the council.
If built, it would be only the second flying theatre in the UK, with the first opening this month at Legoland Windsor. There are around 14 other flying theatres around the world, mostly in theme parks.
These include attractions in Disneyland parks in California, Florida, Shanghai and Tokyo, plus flying theatres in Seattle, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
According to a report that will be discussed at a meeting of the council’s cabinet next Thursday (May 27), a flying theatre would be “an immersive, interactive experience that would be unique to the region, would engender repeat visits via changes in creative content, and would support the diversification of the town centre offer”.
Although plans are still being formulated, Sefton Council intends to submit its proposal for the flying theatre as part of a bid for up to £20m of government funding next month.
The funding has been made available as part of the government’s £4.8bn “Levelling Up Fund”, set up to help fund local projects focused on town centre and high street regeneration, local transport, culture and heritage
Councils can bid for up to £20m per project, with projects limited to one per constituency.
Everton FC is also understood to be supportive of the flying theatre bid, which the council said could tie in with the club’s new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock.
On Thursday, the council’s cabinet will also consider submitting a second bid for money to help fund a community hub in the middle of Crosby.
The hub would be built on a site currently occupied by a council-run car park on The Green and include a new library, a GP surgery, a cafe and flats.
The cabinet report said: “This new community hub will capture wider social and economic benefits, particularly providing a new focal point destination and anchor development, which in turn will help drive footfall into Crosby village centre.”
But it is far from guaranteed that Sefton’s two bids will be successful. The Levelling Up Fund has divided local authorities into three different priority groups, with Sefton being given the lowest priority.
The council has objected to this decision, saying the government has failed to take into account the borough’s high levels of deprivation and placed too much emphasis on the average time it takes people to drive to work, benefiting wealthier rural communities over poorer urban ones.
In light of this, the council said its bids would have to be “distinct and of the highest quality standards” in order to succeed.
Council leader Ian Maher said: “There are some fantastic opportunities for our communities as part of the Levelling Up Fund to bring jobs, investment and recovery to parts of our borough that have been hit hard by the pandemic.
“I am pleased that community remains at the heart of our plans for regeneration; we want to attract people to our town centres as well as improving them for the people who live there.
“The projects that will be submitted as part of our bid for funding are varied, ambitious and will shine a light on what Bootle and Crosby have to offer, bringing much needed footfall and focus to our town centres.”
