The town council tonight voted 20 – 10 in favour of the principle of purchasing three electric 40ft chair rides from the Brussels Expo. A group from the council visited Brussels last week and returned with the idea of offering the chairlift rides as a summer attraction.
It is suggested that with three sections of the ride, it will be possible to carry holiday makers from the Pleasure Beach to North Pier. Opponents to the proposal argued that “the desecration of the sea front” was inevitable, spoiling the sea views from promenade properties.
The scheme is expected to cost in the region of £150,000.
The Expo has been operating since April and continues until 19th October. The Pleasure Beach company is engaged in operating a number of amusement devices at the event.
Ultimately, like so many other ideas – this never came to fruition. It is displayed here to ensure it is part of the ‘permanent record’. From the 1930s – 1960s, there were a number of line and depot closures on the tramway, transport was changing – it is hard to know what impact this scheme may have had should it have proceeded. The Pleasure Beach Cableway, inspired by Leonard Thompson’s visit to Expo 58, opened at the Pleasure Beach in 1960.