Where to Ski And Snowboard - Skiing for Somerset?

Skiing for Somerset?

30th October 2010, by Chris Gill

Indoor skiing

They are springing up all over the place now ... but Somerset could get its first indoor snow dome and leisure complex in a few years, if plans in Weston-Super-Mare go ahead.

Leisuredome UK Ltd has unveiled a project to build the ski and snowboard centre on a disused airfield in Weston-Super-Mare, currently owned by Persimmon Homes. The company is about to sign contracts to buy land for the development, and proposals for the 21,400sqm complex are expected to include the 180m snow slope, skate park, ice rink and gym.

The Leisuredome snow centre would be the first of its kind in the South West, and one of the larger indoor ski centres in the UK. Reports suggest it could boost tourism to the area by an extra 3 million visitors a year. Weston is a rapidly expanding town; its attraction for developers is the wide area of flat land available – such as the Weston Airfield. But a year-round facility of this kind would be a positive addition to the local economy, a coastal town reliant on tourism.

Planning permission is expected to be submitted by next summer after a public consultation, and the project could be complete by 2012 – although that seems a little optimistic at this stage.

North Somerset Council leader, Councillor Nigel Ashton, said: ‘This is hugely exciting for Weston. Skiers will come from all over the South West to use the site and this adds to the appeal of the town.’