Latest news with #MarcusGoldsworthy
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Spectacular new Welsh water park with inflatable assault course poised to open
Spectacular new Welsh water park with inflatable assault course poised to open An opening date has been confirmed and it's just weeks away Cardiff Bay Aqua Park which is moving to a new location (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) An opening date has been announced for a new water park which is coming to a popular Welsh country park. Vale of Glamorgan Council entered into an agreement with Aqua Park Group this year for it to trial a water park at Cosmeston Lake during the summer months. The council and Aqua Park, which runs a number of other water parks across the country, have announced the attraction will be open on Saturday, July 5. Residents and councillors have raised concerns about the plans to allow the attraction at Cosmeston, but council officials insisted conditions would be in place to protect wildlife and the attraction would be restricted to the eastern side of the lake. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here The water park will be much like the Aqua Park attraction which used to be at Cardiff Bay, featuring an assault course with inflatable equipment, slides and climbing frames. It was revealed at a Vale of Glamorgan Council scrutiny committee meeting in March that Aqua Park was unable to operate at Cardiff Bay this year due to issues with water quality. The council's director of place, Marcus Goldsworthy, said the decision to move the attraction presented an opportunity for the council to generate income for improving park facilities at Cosmeston. However, concerns remain about the impact it could have. A petition opposing the plans has so far gained 3,965 signatures. At the Vale Council scrutiny committee meeting in March, Conservative councillor, Cllr Anthony Ernest, said the more he heard about the plans for the water park, the more concerned he grew about its potential impact. A Labour councillor on the scrutiny committee, Cllr Elliot Penn, asked about water quality monitoring on site. Mr Goldsworthy said the water at Cosmeston was tested twice a year to ensure quality was maintained and added that the lake had been used for water-based activities in the past. Vale of Glamorgan Council's cabinet member for sustainable places, Cllr Bronwen Brooks, said: 'The Aqua Park will be another great addition to the already fantastic offer at Cosmeston Country Park as the council continues to promote sustainable tourism and leisure activities in the area. 'Consultation with residents through the council's placemaking work has shown there is appetite locally – particularly among young people – for more varied leisure activities, and the re-introduction of water-based activities at Cosmeston will help us to ensure that our country parks are for everyone. 'Trying new things is at the heart of what we do as an ambitious council, and this pilot could also enable further income opportunities for our country parks – especially in supporting the re-wilding and conservation work already underway at Cosmeston.' At the end of September, the council will carry out an evaluation of the water park pilot and decide if it will go out to tender for someone to operate an attraction on site for the next season. Article continues below
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Aqua Park Penarth: Opening date for new water park at Cosmeston
A new water park is set to open this summer, despite concerns being raised for wildlife in the attraction will open at Cosmeston Country Park on 5 July, Vale of Glamorgan Council has announced, after it entered into an agreement with Aqua Park Group to trial a water park during the summer and councillors raised concerns about the plans, but council officials insisted conditions would be in place to protect wildlife and the attraction would be restricted to the eastern side of the water park will be similar to the Aqua Park attraction which used to be at Cardiff Bay, featuring an assault course with inflatable equipment, slides and climbing frames. The attraction was moved because water quality concerns left it "unable to operate" at the council's director of place, Marcus Goldsworthy, said the decision to move the attraction presented an opportunity for the council to generate income for improving park facilities at Cosmeston, according to the Local Democracy Reporting concerns about the impact it could have are ongoing, with a petition opposing the plans gaining 3,965 signatures so a scrutiny committee meeting in March, Conservative councillor Anthony Ernest said the more he heard about plans for the water park, the more concerned he grew about its potential Elliot Penn, a Labour councillor, asked about water quality monitoring on site. Mr Goldsworthy said the water at Cosmeston is tested twice a year to ensure quality is maintained and added the lake has been used for water-based activities in the of Glamorgan Council's cabinet member for sustainable places, Bronwen Brooks, said the water park would be a "great addition to the already fantastic offer at Cosmeston Country Park"."Consultation with residents through the council's placemaking work has shown there is appetite locally - particularly among young people - for more varied leisure activities, and the re-introduction of water-based activities at Cosmeston will help us to ensure that our country parks are for everyone," she the end of September, the council will carry out an evaluation of the water park pilot and decide if it will go out to tender for someone to operate an attraction on the site next year.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Water park to move after water quality concerns
A summer water park will not operate in Cardiff Bay this year over concerns about water quality. Aqua Park is set to move to Cosmeston Lake in Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, after it told the council issues over water quality had left it "unable to operate" following heavy rain. The attraction has operated in the Welsh capital since 2019 and includes an inflatable assault course with slides and climbing frames. Cardiff Harbour Authority said water quality in Cardiff Bay was "routinely" checked, but increased rainfall and higher river flows in recent summers had increased the number of failed tests. Vale of Glamorgan Council's director of place, Marcus Goldsworthy said the move presented an opportunity to generate new income for improving facilities at Cosmeston. An agreement to run a pilot between May and September is set to be signed next month. Speaking at a Vale of Glamorgan Council environment and regeneration scrutiny committee meeting on Tuesday, Mr Goldsworthy said the operator had a "number of issues in Cardiff Bay around water quality" and was not able to operate for the days it needed to. He added: "Essentially every time there was heavy rain, the water quality was so bad that they were unable to operate so they basically just couldn't carry on functioning in a financially viable way in Cardiff Bay. "In respect of water quality, the water is tested twice a year at Cosmeston to ensure that quality is maintained." Aqua Park first opened in Cardiff Bay in 2019 but was forced to close during the Covid-19 pandemic. It reopened for the 2023 and 2024 summer seasons. Vale of Glamorgan Council will carry out a full evaluation of the pilot and decide if it will go out to tender for someone to operate an attraction at Cosmeston next year. A Cardiff Harbour Authority spokesperson said water quality in Cardiff Bay was "routinely tested" and managed in line with EU bathing water standards. "Maintaining public health is our top priority and if water quality fails to reach the necessary standards then steps are taken to protect Bay users," they added. The authority said recent wet summers had increased rainfall and river flows, resulting in more failed tests. "Cardiff Harbour Authority has no control over the quality of the water that flows into the Bay and as has been well publicised recently, water quality is an issue in rivers, lakes and other fresh water bodies across the UK." Governments to investigate River Wye pollution Wales' water pollution spikes, despite £483m spend More Welsh attractions 'at risk' as Oakwood shuts
BBC News
13-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Cardiff Bay Aqua Park to move to Penarth over water quality concerns
A summer water park will not operate in Cardiff Bay this year over concerns about water Park is set to move to Cosmeston Lake in Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, after it told the council issues over water quality had left it "unable to operate" following heavy attraction has operated in the Welsh capital since 2019 and includes an inflatable assault course with slides and climbing Harbour Authority said water quality in Cardiff Bay was "routinely" checked, but increased rainfall and higher river flows in recent summers had increased the number of failed tests. Vale of Glamorgan Council's director of place, Marcus Goldsworthy said the move presented an opportunity to generate new income for improving facilities at agreement to run a pilot between May and September is set to be signed next at a Vale of Glamorgan Council environment and regeneration scrutiny committee meeting on Tuesday, Mr Goldsworthy said the operator had a "number of issues in Cardiff Bay around water quality" and was not able to operate for the days it needed added: "Essentially every time there was heavy rain, the water quality was so bad that they were unable to operate so they basically just couldn't carry on functioning in a financially viable way in Cardiff Bay."In respect of water quality, the water is tested twice a year at Cosmeston to ensure that quality is maintained."Aqua Park first opened in Cardiff Bay in 2019 but was forced to close during the Covid-19 reopened for the 2023 and 2024 summer of Glamorgan Council will carry out a full evaluation of the pilot and decide if it will go out to tender for someone to operate an attraction at Cosmeston next year. A Cardiff Harbour Authority spokesperson said water quality in Cardiff Bay was "routinely tested" and managed in line with EU bathing water standards."Maintaining public health is our top priority and if water quality fails to reach the necessary standards then steps are taken to protect Bay users," they authority said recent wet summers had increased rainfall and river flows, resulting in more failed tests."Cardiff Harbour Authority has no control over the quality of the water that flows into the Bay and as has been well publicised recently, water quality is an issue in rivers, lakes and other fresh water bodies across the UK."
