Zip wire and surf ride - company's plans for Bournemouth Pier

An artists impression of how the zip wire would look An artists impression of how the zip wire would look

A SERIES of exciting new attractions are planned at Bournemouth Pier to try and boost its appeal to visitors.

Openwide International, which has a lease agreement on the pier, wants to install a nautical-themed high ropes course and a zip line attraction that will launch riders from the pier and across the sea to the beach.

The company is also seeking permission to build a standing surf wave ride on the end of the pier.

This is the latest proposal from Openwide, who had previously considered installing a big wheel or a tower on the end of the pier.

However, both these plans had to be scrapped because of the height restrictions put in place for the air festival.

If successful, the new attractions will replace the collection of small and old children’s rides that are currently based at the end of the pier.

In its planning application, lodged with Bournemouth council, Openwide say the surf wave will be known as the Oz Wave and will be useable all year round.

The dual level high ropes and zip line course will also be useable all year round and will have two different levels – one for use by younger or nervous riders and a more daring one for the more adventurous.

Rory Holburn, director of Openwide, said: “We’ve been really searching the entire attractions market for a concept that would bring people up the pier. It needs to be something appealing and intriguing enough to get people to pay the toll and come up and take a look.

“We’ve put together a collection of things that can attract all ages – from young children to fun-loving adults. It’s also very much of the moment.

“The zip wire is key to the whole development because it’s that that demonstrates to people on the beach that there is something going on at the pier.”

Comments(18)

wonderway says...
9:26am Wed 2 Jan 13

Oz Wave should be called ASR (another s*dding ripoff) hope its not build with geo textile bags oooops there is a few spare in storage in poole wonder how much thats costing each month. As for zip wire to beach great idea can recharge them to get back on pier after every ride more revenue for our scrooge council to rake in

BmthNewshound says...
9:51am Wed 2 Jan 13

What happened to the plans to turn the pier theatre into an indoor adventure sports attraction announced last year ?
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The pier area is becoming increasingly tacky and doubt that these proposals will do much to improve things.
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The council should have asked for details of Openwides development plans before leasing the pier. Once again a private business whose prime objective is to screw as much money out of visitors as possible has the council over a barrel.

BIGTONE says...
9:55am Wed 2 Jan 13

Oz wave goodbye to that evident nice fat cheque from the Council.

upyourpipe says...
10:49am Wed 2 Jan 13

I would have thought anything containing the word "surf" would be avoided.

Jimbo089 says...
11:03am Wed 2 Jan 13

No, the zip wire would be still too dangerous for the air festival as the Red Arrows fly far too close to the pier.

bourne free says...
11:06am Wed 2 Jan 13

About time the pier approach was tidied up , boscombe looks great now after a little cash was thrown at it ?

polblagger says...
11:23am Wed 2 Jan 13

Every standing surf wave I've seen has been part of a promotional or all inclusive package because they're financially unworkable as a stand alone attraction.

Rope course, mmmm 2 things.

1. By the time it's built the craze for these 'go ape' style attractions will be old hat and unfashionable (just like, dare I say it, IMAX Cinema).

2. High wire course, nice idea, very inclusive for the older or disabled visitor.

What planet are these people on.

l'anglais says...
11:28am Wed 2 Jan 13

Jimbo089 wrote:
No, the zip wire would be still too dangerous for the air festival as the Red Arrows fly far too close to the pier.
LOL
I hope you are joking

Dare devil flying shouldn't involve picking up candy floss and a kiss me quick hat en route

HRH of Boscombe says...
11:37am Wed 2 Jan 13

Jimbo089 wrote:
No, the zip wire would be still too dangerous for the air festival as the Red Arrows fly far too close to the pier.
You don't think the best pilots in the country would avoid it when they're told it's there??

palexgo says...
11:44am Wed 2 Jan 13

In South America I enjoyed a restaurant beneath the sea end of a pier. At night the sea was illuminated and we were partly under sea. We could see fish swimming and birds landing on the sea and going for the fish in daylight and nigh light. It was an amazing experience and something Bournemouth & Boscombe piers should have.

The-Bleeding-Obvious says...
12:42pm Wed 2 Jan 13

How about a high speed 'zip wire' that goes from the top of the town hall straight out to sea for the exclusive use of our wonderful councillors and jobsworths!

BOURNE RED says...
2:35pm Wed 2 Jan 13

palexgo wrote:
In South America I enjoyed a restaurant beneath the sea end of a pier. At night the sea was illuminated and we were partly under sea. We could see fish swimming and birds landing on the sea and going for the fish in daylight and nigh light. It was an amazing experience and something Bournemouth & Boscombe piers should have.
This sounds like a great idea would be the only one in this country but it would be knowing it down and starting again cause you can't polish a turd!

muscliffman says...
3:36pm Wed 2 Jan 13

Why are these sort of promoters stuck in a 'artists impression' time warp from about fifty years ago?

A fairly child like painting of the Pier area with a dirty great pencil line to show the zip-wire! Perhaps they do not yet have even basic domestic PC systems available to them, so quaint water colours it still is!

I do like the one-way zip wire from the Town Hall out to sea idea, it would repay our investment in no time and I would pay to watch!

That apart these ideas should fit in nicely with the Pier Approach tacky fairground and our £10million pound open air, all weathers entertainment slab.

pete woodley says...
8:00pm Wed 2 Jan 13

How about donkey rides, if we want to go back in time.

muscliffman says...
8:45pm Wed 2 Jan 13

pete woodley wrote:
How about donkey rides, if we want to go back in time.
Used to be at Boscombe Pier for rides through the Gardens. But never allowed on Bournemouth's beaches, in contrast to other resorts - as I recall.

Long gone now, I mean we cannot possibly have anything at Boscombe seafront that is attractive, sells and works can we!

pete woodley says...
9:02pm Wed 2 Jan 13

Attractive,sells,and works,?.Right area,for it.

s-pb2 says...
11:40pm Wed 2 Jan 13

pete woodley wrote:
How about donkey rides, if we want to go back in time.
Where would they be stabled? Where would there shelter be on the beach? They would also need an area to be fed and given water, where would that be? I can just imagine the strong smell of donkey urine wafting down the beach and looking for a spot to sit on the beach avoiding the donkey poo.

pete woodley says...
1:14pm Thu 3 Jan 13

There is enough crap left on beach without the donkeys.

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