June 5, 2020 11.07 am This story is over 45 months old

East Lindsey council wants to allow Fantasy Island changes without planning

Easier to adapt with the times
Fantasy Island.

East Lindsey District Council wants to give Ingoldmells’ Fantasy Island resort free rein to make certain changes in the hopes to improve tourism in the area.

The authority has submitted a notice for a Local Development Order (LDO) which, if approved will mean the owners of the park will not have to apply for planning permission to make certain changes.

Documents before the authority said: “The principal aim is to support continued investment on the site at Fantasy Island on Sea Lane in Ingoldmells; and, as a result, to support the economy of this part of the district.

“The tourism and leisure industry is a significant part of the employment base along the East Lindsey coast and large attractions bring in significant numbers of visitors, which bring benefits to the wider economy beyond the bounds of the attraction itself.”

The authority notes that there have been a “large number” of planning applications for the resort over the years “often for very minor changes”.

“This constant need to obtain planning permission, for what are often uncontentious small scale planning applications, takes up a considerable amount of time for both the operator and the local planning authority,” said the documents.

“The LDO will allow a flexible approach to the development of the site to enable the operator to respond quickly to changing trends in the tourist market and thereby help to boost jobs and diversify the leisure and tourism offer on the coast.”

The order will split the site into three zones – covering caravan sites, shopping and eating facilities and the main Fantasy Island resort – and gives each area its own limits as to what can be developed or changed without permission.

Fantasy Island will still have to apply for things like alcohol, live entertainment, gambling, food hygiene, site licences and fairground operation certification.