'All options on table for waterpark' - council

North Yorkshire Council has said "all options" for the future of a popular Scarborough waterpark remain on the table.

The local authority took control of Alpamare, in Burniston Road, following the collapse of the site's developer, and it was reopened in July 2024.

The operators of ​Flamingo Land, based in nearby Malton, originally secured a contract to run it for 12 months, with an option to extend its lease for a further year.

The council's corporate director for resources, Gary Fielding, said Flamingo Land would continue to operate Alpamare "until at least the end of October" of this year, but added that the authority was working to ensure the attraction's long-term future.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he added: "We are already actively exploring all options for the future of the site, including any potential interest within the wider North Bay area plans.

​"Our priority is to ensure the long-term operational and financial stability of the venue so it continues to contribute positively to Scarborough's leisure and tourism offer."

​The attraction opened in 2016 with the help of a £9m loan that was granted by the old Scarborough Borough Council to developer Benchmark Leisure Ltd.

But the developer went into administration in October 2023, leading North Yorkshire Council to take possession of the site and write off the £7.8m that remained unpaid.

​Last year, a fact-finding review by the council's auditor concluded that the decision to grant a loan to Benchmark Leisure Limited was "undoubtedly risky".

In 2024, the council did not rule out subsidising the waterpark in the longer term.

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