Plan for Portsmouth indoor snow resort still alive insists council

Tory councillor Linda Symes says the council is still keen to find a private partner to create the venue – similar to the Snozone complex in Milton Keynes.

The News revealed early last year that the council was exploring the possibility of turning part of the rubbish dump site on Horsea Island into an indoor family resort with activities including skiing, snowboarding, sledging, tubing – going down a slope on an inflatable – and ice-skating.

Now Cllr Symes says the venue could be created in land around Eastney which could kick-start the wider regeneration of the area.

The council is not looking to put public money into the scheme and wants a private investor.

Cllr Symes said: ‘It’s an aspiration.

‘We’re still looking at this because it would be another indoor facility that people could use.

‘It’s a different kind of attraction.

‘We are very keen to keep people fit and healthy, and different people have different ways of wanting to do this.

‘And as it would be indoor, you would be able to use it any time of the year.’

Talking about the preferred sites, Cllr Symes said: ‘Port Solent and Eastney are the key ones.

‘These are the ones that are doable because we know there is land available there.

‘We need to work out who would want to provide it and whether the land available would meet their requirements.

‘We would need to do the feasibility study and public consultation and go through all the usual channels.

‘It would be a private venture. But what we have got to do is find the right place and work through how we would facilitate it.’

The council hopes the move would pump millions of pounds into the city’s economy and could inject new life into Port Solent should it go there. And up to 100 jobs could also be created through the snow centre and attracting more restaurants and shops to move in to the north of the city.

Part of the Port Solent landfill site is also set to become a country park providing 135 acres of open space. It was selected as part of the Queen’s Jubilee Woods Project which will see 60 Diamond Woods formed across the UK.

The park will have 50,000 trees and shrubs, grass areas, 
wildflower meadows, footpaths, cycle routes, picnic areas and a car park.