News: Tourism continues to boost Rotherham's economy by half a billion pounds a year

In Rotherham, visitor numbers are up, more people are staying within the area, and the economic impact is huge, with over £500m generated directly and indirectly by the tourism sector in 2025, reports Visit Rotherham.

Rotherham is ahead of Barnsley in terms of total tourism visits, economic impact and jobs supported.

Visit Rotherham has looked at new data, commissioned via the South Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership and processed by Global Tourism Solution’s STEAM Report, which shows that increases have continued each year on the back of high profile events and investment in family friendly attractions.

A total of £539m was generated directly and indirectly within the local Rotherham economy through visitor and tourism business expenditure in 2025, with the economic impact 5.8% up on the £509m recorded in the previous year.

The stats showed that there were 5.4 million tourism visits to Rotherham in 2025, up by 0.7%, and that visitor activity and spend supports more than 4,492 full time equivalent jobs in the borough.

Over half a million visits (593,000) were made by visitors staying within Rotherham as part of a holiday or short break, up 0.9% on the previous year and generating 1.4 million nights in local accommodation.

STEAM data for South Yorkshire 2025:

	Tourism Visits	Visitors Staying	Economic Impact	Jobs Supported
Sheffield	18.7 million	1.9 million	£2.0 billion	16,203
Doncaster	10.17 million	873,000	£1.05 billion	8,612
Rotherham	5.4 million	593,000	£539 million	4,492
Barnsley	4.09 million	600,000	£431 million	3,593
S. Yorksire	38.3 million	3.9 million	£4.0 billion	32,788

A highlight for 2025 was Rotherham hosting the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Flower Show when over 60,000 visitors attended Wentworth Woodhouse for the world-famous gardening event.

As the world’s first Children’s Capital of Culture in 2025, Rotherham has been redefining how creativity, civic purpose and collaboration can be shaped by children and young people. With events across the borough including music, sports and cultural events animating Rotherham town centre, organisers said they had achieved 83,743 "active participations" in activities during the 2025 festival year.

2025 also saw continued success at Gulliver’s Valley with the family theme park bringing attractions such as the “Land of Lights” to Rotherham for the first time.

Advertisement
In the town centre, and continuing the move towards more leisure uses following the opening of Arc Cinema on Forge Island, 2025 saw the re-opening of the Empire Theatre after a £1.8m restoration.

At Clifton Park, one of Yorkshire’s best free days out, the revamped water splash opened in 2025 and now welcomes over 30,000 people in the summer seasons enjoying the new paddling pool and splash pads.

Like the rest of South Yorkshire, Rotherham does well to attract visitors for a day out - the data shows that 4.8 million tourism visits were made by day visitors in 2025 (up 0.6% on 2024). Day visitors make up a huge 89% of total visitors to the area.

In Rotherham, day visitors enjoy the award-winning Clifton Park, and the unique events space and hands-on exhibits at the Magna Science Adventure Centre. Sports fans come for football, rugby and boxing, and less mainstream sports events such as the Open Water National Championships held at Rother Valley Country Park.

Tom Austen, founder of Visit Rotherham, said: “The report makes for fantastic reading and shows that Rotherham continues to be a place that people want to visit and invest in.

“We still need to shout more about what we've got here. Other destinations would love to have attractions like Magna, Wentworth Woodhouse, Gulliver’s Valley and Grimm & Co. And 70% of Rotherham is open countryside with picturesque villages and country parks created from former coalfields and industrial areas.

“That's why I set up Visit Rotherham at visitrotherham.com - to tell people about what Rotherham has to offer, the new venues and attractions opening, the busy events calendar, and the best places to go.

“A lot of it is about changing Rotherham’s image and people’s perceptions. Rotherham, and South Yorkshire, is a great place for people who like a good value family day out, want to learn about our heritage, like to get outdoors, or enjoy the theatre, live music and a decent pint.

“The website also helps local people find out all of the amazing things that are happening in their hometown that they can get involved with and be proud of.”

Looking ahead, further investment in tourism in Rotherham is planned. At Wentworth Woodhouse, a unique holiday let is being created in the Grade-I listed mansion, and the RHS is set to return in 2028.

A new £10m tram-train stop at Magna is enabling operators to host more music events, and at Manvers, plans are moving ahead for a £14m project to create a whitewater course.

And from nearly 400 bids, Rotherham has been shortlisted to become the UK's first Town of Culture in 2027.

Visit Rotherham website

Images: Gulliver's Valley / WWPT

Read more...

News: Gulliver's brings Great British Summer Savings to Rotherham

The big name operator of a family theme park in Rotherham is backing the government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme designed to help people enjoy days out for less.

Visit Rotherham reports that from June 25 to September 1 2026, VAT will be slashed on eligible activities, helping families "enjoy the weekend treats, the days out, the small plans that make life enjoyable during the cost of living squeeze while supporting the businesses that depend on summer footfall."

Great British Summer Savings will be a targeted and temporary scheme, introduced alongside free bus travel for children that will run from August 1 to 31 and covers participating local bus services across England.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: "I want families to be able to enjoy the little treats this summer. Great British Summer Savings will help families enjoy time making memories together while boosting business across the UK.

"This comes on top of support we’ve already put in place including freezing fuel duty, taking off £117 off energy bills, and freezing prescriptions and rail fares – all to help families with the cost of living."

Advertisement
The VAT rate on eligible activities will be cut from 20% to 5%. The reduced rate will apply to:

- Children’s menu meals served in restaurants for consumption on the premises
- Children’s and family tickets for cinemas, theatres, concerts, shows and exhibitions
- Admission tickets, for both children and adults, to a range of attractions, including: amusement parks, fairs, museums, zoos, soft play centres, circuses, adventure parks, nature reserves, wildlife parks and observation attractions.

The scheme is estimated to cost about £300m with £100m to fund the free fares scheme.

Julie Dalton, managing director of Gulliver’s Theme Park Resorts, said: "Government support for the UK’s visitor economy is always welcome, so it’s great to see the launch of the Great British Summer Savings Scheme which will help families get out and enjoy the fantastic attractions on their doorstep.

"At Gulliver’s, we’ve already applied these savings to ticket prices across our four UK resorts - Gulliver’s Kingdom in Matlock Bath, Gulliver’s World in Warrington, Gulliver’s Land in Milton Keynes and Gulliver’s Valley in Rotherham – so combined with our latest summer ticket offer, the next few weeks are the perfect time for families to come and enjoy great value days out with us.

"As a family-owned business, we understand the importance of providing affordable days out and short breaks for children, parents and carers and we’re proud to have been creating these fun-filled adventures and lasting memories for the last 48 years."

Opening adjacent to Rother Valley Country Park in 2020, Gulliver's Valley is the company's fourth park aimed at families with children aged two to 13-years-old and each offering a great variety of rides, attractions and accommodation options, as well as a calendar packed full of special events throughout the year.

Gulliver's Valley website

Images: Gulliver's

Read more...

News: What the new £8m café means for Rother Valley

Kier Construction has delivered an incredible new café and events facility in Rotherham which stands to be an important asset for the future of Rother Valley Country Park.

Work began on The Waterfront in 2024 creating a new state of the art building housing a new eatery and indoor function space with views extending over the lake.

Opening in April and set in a stunning lakeside location, The Waterfront Café has been thoughtfully designed to deliver an exceptional visitor experience, with over 200 covers in a modern, light-filled setting that makes the most of the surrounding views.

Alongside the café, The Waterfront Function Space offers a versatile venue for events, celebrations and community gatherings, all within a striking contemporary building that connects seamlessly with the natural landscape.

It is envisaged that the new building will help host a million visitors per year who come to the park for events, food, and the many leisure pusuits and water sports on offer.

Tom Hague, senior site manager for Kier, said: "This building matters for a number of reasons. First of all, this site is very well visited. It offers a range of activities and opportunities for people in the local area. But it's seen very little investment since it opened in the early 80s. And this creates more opportunities. The existing facilities are starting to become a little bit tired. And there is opportunity here to get more people in and offer a greater offering for the wider public within this area.

"I think getting people outdoors and into this sort of environment is quite key. This site is situated between Rotherham and Sheffield, and it draws upon that area and the larger region. It's well known for the activities on offer down here, such as the water sports, various different biking and walking opportunities as well. And this facility enables people to come down and enjoy that space and get outdoors.

"This project means a lot to me because I've got a lot of memories and history here. I've spent many weekends here on the water sailing, undertaking various different water activities. I'm often running around the lake as well. I'm a local person to this project. I live in Rotherham, so it's fantastic to be able to deliver projects here where I live. And it's a facility that I'm going to use and bring my family down as well."

Advertisement
Funding for the project came from the government's Levelling Up Fund, where Rotherham Council was successful in securing £19.5m for the town centre and £19.9m for a number of connected projects around the leisure industry.

Neil Best, Head of Commercial Development and Visitor Experience at Rotherham Council, said: "The project is really important not only for the borough but specifically for Rother Valley in that, since post-COVID, green spaces, as you'll know across the country, have seen a massive influx of visitors, and this is no exception. We get nearly a million visitors a year here now. And the facilities that have been here previously just clearly weren't sufficient to deal with that number of visitors.

"So, we had a fantastic opportunity through what was then the Levelling Up Fund to invest in the park, and this project is the result of several years of endeavour along with [architect] AHR and Kier.

"We are now able to cater for visitors all year round. We have an opportunity to develop a new strain of business in the park through our events programme. We will also be able to cater for bigger events within the park, and obviously, it's an asset in its own right — people will come to visit it."

The Waterfront website

Images: Kier

Read more...

News: Opening nears for Rotherham country park upgrades including new £7m café and venue called "The Waterfront"

Multimillion pound upgrades at two popular country parks in Rotherham are nearing completion and will soon be open to the public, according to Visit Rotherham.

At Rother Valley Country Park work began in 2024 on a £7.4m contract to build a new waterfront development, housing a new 150-seater eatery and indoor function space with views extending over the lake.

The new development will also include external landscaping with an area for play outside the café for younger visitors. In addition, visitors will also benefit from new car parking facilities to the East of the lake, which will greatly improve accessibility and visitor experience.

The new development is set to open in "Spring 2026," according to park operators, Rotherham Council. March is the expected opening month.

An update from the park reads: "We’re delighted to announce that The Waterfront will be opening in Spring 2026, bringing an exciting new café and function space to the heart of Rother Valley Country Park.

"Set in a stunning lakeside location, The Waterfront Café has been thoughtfully designed to deliver an exceptional visitor experience, with over 200 covers in a modern, light-filled setting that makes the most of the surrounding views. It will be a place to relax after a walk, meet friends and family, or simply enjoy great food and drink by the water.

"Alongside the café, The Waterfront Function Space will offer a versatile venue for events, celebrations and community gatherings, all within a striking contemporary building that connects seamlessly with the natural landscape."

The total budget for the project in the council's capital programme is £8,854,198.

Advertisement
Recruitment is currently underway for various roles at Rother Valley, including a venue & catering manager and head chef. Further roles are set to be advertised in January.

Council papers show that the delay in opening has been caused by the need for a power supply upgrade. A cabinet report stated: "The site handover at Rother Valley Country Park was completed in November 2025, however final completion is expected in March 2026 due to delays with the electricity connection with Northern Power Grid. In the interim period, the building will undergo furnishing, decoration and initial socialisation, leading to a soft opening in April 2026."

At Thrybergh, work got underway on a café refurbishment project and outdoor landscaping in the summer of 2025. The £790,000 upgrade has transformed the aging building at Thrybergh Country Park into a modern lakeside hub with improved indoor and outdoor seating, better access, and upgraded facilities.

Improvements include a new kitchen, an updated interior, a new outdoor terrace and fully accessible toilets and entrances.

The café will also feature modern design elements that blend with the park’s natural surroundings, while visitors with a sweet tooth are in for a treat, as the new café will serve ice cream.

Works were due to complete in December 2025 with a soft opening of the redevelopment works planned for January 2026.

Funding for both projects comes from the government's Levelling Up Fund, where Rotherham Council was successful in securing £19.5m for the town centre and £19.9m for a number of connected projects around the leisure industry.

Rother Valley Country Park website

Images: RMBC

Read more...

News: Gulliver's brings Land of Lights to Rotherham

Rotherham legend Paul ‘Chuckle’ Elliott has officially opened the spectacular Land of Lights festival which has arrived in the town for the very first time this winter.

Thousands of people have already snapped up tickets for the highly anticipated festival, taking place at Gulliver’s Valley and featuring an array of wonderful lanterns.

Paul Elliott, one half of the iconic Chuckle Brother’s, was joined by local VIPs and dignitaries including Deputy Lord Lieutenant Deborah Bullivant and managing director of Gulliver’s Theme Park Resorts, Julie Dalton, to cut the ribbon on the extravaganza at a special preview event. He then declared Land of Lights officially open running on selected dates until 31 January 2026.

Land of Lights 2025 takes visitors on a mile-long visual voyage exploring multiple vivid dreamworlds of imagination and illumination. There is an all-new collection of lanterns including an array of incredible dinosaurs and music and street food is also on offer for guests to enjoy.

Advertisement
Guests are also able to experience the magic of Land of Lights Lantern alongside their furry friends with special Dog Friendly evenings which will be held on all operational Wednesdays and Sundays. There will be waste bins and water bowls throughout the trail, and dogs must be kept on a short lead at all times.

Craig Seedhouse, resort manager at Gulliver’s Valley, said: "We have had an incredible opening weekend! What an honour to welcome the wonderful Paul Elliott to Gulliver’s Valley to officially open the event for us along with other local dignitaries and representatives from local business and charitable organisations who enjoyed a sneak preview.

“Land of Lights, which is now open to the public on selected dates until 31 January 2026, is a wonderful boost to the local economy over the winter period and provides guests with an enjoyable, family friendly activity that is suitable for all, including dogs on our special dog friendly evenings! Please do come and pay us a visit as we can’t wait to welcome as many people as possible to experience what we have on offer and see the lights and lanterns light up the winter skies.”

Land of Lights website
Gulliver's Valley website

Images: Gulliver's

Read more...

News: £83m Rotherham regeneration projects can be pushed back to 2028

Multimillion pound regeneration projects in Rotherham will have more time to be completed after the Government granted more flexibilities over how the money can be spent.

Partners in the borough will also find it easier to cancel projects, move funding to different, or even new, projects, and change governance arrangements.

Rothbiz reported in 2023 that the previous government had entered Rotherham into the Simplification Pathfinder Pilot, a simplified approach to funding delivery, after the National Audit Office (NAO) warned of delays around spending Levelling Up funding pots.

Now the new government has consolidated a number of funding schemes in a bid to accelerate project delivery and improve value for money.

In 2021, Rotherham secured £31.6m from the Town Deal to revamp areas of Rotherham town centre as well as Templeborough, Eastwood and the site of the proposed mainline station at Parkgate. In the same year, £12.6m was secured from the Future High Streets Fund.

From the Levelling Up Fund, Rotherham was successful in securing £19.5m for the town centre and £19.9m for a number of connected projects around the leisure industry. £20m was then secured in 2023 for a new mixed-use development in Wath town centre, as well as delivering significant improvements to Dinnington High Street and market.

The pots have now been combined into the "Local Regeneration Fund" with single, annual allocations based on streamlined monitoring and reduced reporting frequency.

One of the main flexibilities is that all funding is now due to be spent by the end of March 2028.

The Future High Streets Fund was initially due to be spent by March 2024, with other funds then due to be spent by March 2026. In Rotherham this includes projects that have suffered delays due to rising costs, difficulties securing contractors and legal issues.

The revamp of Rotherham Market, which is using money from the Future High Street Fund, was originally scheduled to finish in December 2025 but this was pushed back to 2027 with total costs now at £40.89m. At Riverside Gardens, another Future High Street Fund project, a contractor has recently started work. Changes have also been made to projects at Rother Valley and Thrybergh Country parks but construction work is underway.

Advertisement
With the council unable to acquire the properties required to deliver the Dinnington scheme, a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) was issued earlier this year which meant that the spending on the project was extended from 2026 to 2028.

Many schemes have completed in the borough backed by the funds. This includes Skills Street at Gulliver's Valley, work to transform heritage buildings at Maltby Grammar School, and the acquisition and demolition of burnt out buidings in the town centre.

Another flexibility is that the government no longer requires local authorities to seek approval for any changes. As long as it still meets conditions around value for money and contributes to one or more Government Missions, changes could include amendments to the scope of existing projects, the cancellation of existing projects and the creation of new projects.

An update from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) said: "After listening to feedback from local government, on the need for less bureaucratic micromanagement and more local control, we have now announced the consolidation of MHCLG’s Levelling Up Fund, Town Deals and Simplification Pathfinders Pilot Fund together into a single funding pot. This reform will increase flexibility to adapt schemes to local needs and focus on delivery.

"We are giving local authorities greater ability to make decisions locally about moving funding between projects in their funding portfolio. Local authorities should consider how they can use this increased flexibility to invest more effectively, whether that is pooling funding in the same area, redeploying funding to different priorities or making changes to existing projects to expedite delivery and maximise their impact.  

"It is our expectation that projects already underway will be completed, for the benefit of local residents. In the small number of cases where projects are no longer viable, we expect that councils will use the funding available to invest in the area that originally stood to benefit, so local residents can feel the improvements to their everyday lives that they have been promised. We strongly encourage local authorities to consult with key stakeholders, including MPs in their local areas on any proposed changes and in particular changes to the location or projects and/or intended beneficiaries."

Rothbiz has previously reported on changes made in Rotherham to funded schemes. Aspects have been removed from projects, such as a proposed new bridge over the River Don to the football stadium and the live music venue project has looked at a number of heritage properties in the town centre. A new project to introduce "Health on the High Street" in a bid to improve access to health services and increase footfall in the town centre was added to the mix earlier this year.

Not included in the funds is the Plan for Neighbourhoods that will guide a £20m investment into the town over the next ten years.

Images: RMBC / AHR / Maltby Learning Trust

Read more...

News: Rother Valley upgrade planned

The popular visitor destination in Rotherham, Rother Valley Country Park, is getting another investment to accompany the new lakeside café.

Rothbiz reported last year that work had begun on a £7.4m contract to build a new waterfront development, housing a new 150-seater eatery and indoor function space with views extending over the lake.

The new development will also include external landscaping with an area for play outside the café for younger visitors. In addition, visitors will also benefit from new car parking facilities to the East of the lake, which will greatly improve accessibility and visitor experience.

The improvements at the popular country park are part of wider aims to build a thriving leisure offer and visitor economy in Rotherham.

Rotherham Council secured almost £20m from the government’s Levelling Up Fund to create new jobs and celebrate the hidden gems and green spaces that are unique to Rotherham’s heritage, transforming Rotherham into a major leisure destination.

Now a planning application has been submitted for a raft of new play equipment at the country park.

Advertisement
Play options have been limited at the park in recent years. The paid-for play area called Adventure Valley closed and never re-opened and the free play area was reduced during COVID.

New plans show that the small play area at the Northern end of the park near main Lake and Northern Lake is getting an upgrade with the installation of a multi-unit play equipment item as part of a new play area for the country park.

Proposals include a large multi unit with play feature activities such as a large slide, a step ladder, a climber, a ramp with climbing nodules and double sided, vertical vine climber. A sloped climbing wall, a liana rope climber, vertical rock climb and foot/hand hold access offer more challenging activities.

Across the play area. new toddler and junior swings, and a cantilever basket swing are shown, along with various play crossings such as beams, net bridges and striding stilts. A timber bali house, spinnning disc, telescope, bug magnifier and hammock complete the setup.

The planning application is required as the multi unit piece of equipment reaches four metres in height and the site is in the green belt.

The investment is part of Rotherham Council's Children’s Playgrounds Programme, with Rother Valley Country Park being part of phase one.

Last year a £919,000 Capital budget allocation was approved by Rotherham Council for a three-year period from 2024 to 2027 to improve play provision at Thrybergh Country Park, Rother Valley Country Park and at least six additional play areas, which would otherwise not be funded for refurbishment or replacement.

£380,000 was set aside for an initial three play areas at Chestnut Grove, Dinnington Rother Valley Country Park and Thrybergh Country Park.

Last month, phase two of the programme - the next five children’s playgrounds to be replaced, to the value of £536k - were approved. These are: Wath Skate Park; Rosehill Victoria Park, Rawmarsh; Cherry Tree Park, Maltby; Ferham Park; Packman Way, West Melton; with Old Hall, Kimberworth in reserve.

Rother Valley Country Park website

Images: Google Maps

Read more...

News: Plans approved for SEND school at Gulliver's Valley

A new school has been granted temporary planning permission to open at the Gulliver's Valley theme park in Rotherham.

The facility, for up to 50 children, builds on a partnership established last year between the operators of the park at Rother Valley and Five Rivers Child Care – a social enterprise dedicated to providing children’s social care and helping young people recover from neglect, abuse, trauma or family breakdown.

The plans involve a change of use of an existing resort services / facilities building which sits alongside the recently opened Skills Street immersive learning destination.

The permission enables the use of the site as a school for students who have Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND) for seven years.

Applicants explained that the proposed River Valley School will "take Five Rivers experience, skills and dedication in independent specialist school provision, and apply that here in Rotherham to the benefit of children in need of SEND school placements.

"The proposed SEND School will be an Ofsted regulated school, regularly assessed to ensure that it is delivering on the needs of children in the region. It will provide 50 student placements, with mixed gender and student age range of 6-18 years old."

The applicant notes that there is an urgent need case for this facility in Rotherham as there is a waiting list for SEND places which cannot currently be met.

The proposal will also provide up-to 40 jobs, across a range of teachers, teaching assistants and care givers.

Advertisement
The reason for the temporary use period is that it allows Gulliver’s to reclaim occupation of the building if it is needed in the future as the park continues to expand.

The main issue for Rotherham Council planners was that the site is in the green belt. Planners conclude: "that the change of use of the existing building preserves the openness of the Green Belt and do not conflict with the purposes of including land within the Green Belt. The re-use of the building is not inappropriate development, as the building is of permanent and substantial construction."

The use as a SEND school is given weight in planning terms as community facilities in the green belt will be supported as they serve the changing need of Rotherham’s communities.

Established in 1989, Five Rivers is one of England’s most experienced providers of children’s social care. It operates independent specialist schools and partners with over 100 local authorities, providing a comprehensive and connected service across five key focus areas: foster care, residential care, education, assessment and therapy and crisis intervention.

Gulliver’s Activity Centre is already in operation, utilising six bespoke cabins in a peaceful wooded area, offering bespoke learning programs in a therapeutic environment.

A brochure for the new school explains: "River Valley will be a happy, safe and welcoming environment, which will allow our pupils to achieve their own academic targets whilst feeling safe, secure and boosting their self esteem."

The plans were approved without going to the council's planning board.

Commenting on the plans, Helen Leadley, Commissioning Manager at Rotherham Council, said: "RMBC Children’s Services commission education placements with Five Rivers. We find them to be child centred and able to meet the needs of young students with complex needs. The Gulliver’s location is beneficial for children’s education as there is plenty of space which allows for flexibility in the delivery of these services."

Five Rivers website
Gulliver's Valley website

Images: Five Rivers / Google Maps

Read more...

News: Gulliver's Valley adds new rides and experiences

Two brand new rides have officially opened at Gulliver’s Valley in Rotherham with operators also confirming that a lantern show will take place this winter in a first of its kind for the popular resort.

Gulliver’s Theme Park Resorts was founded by Ray Phillips and his late wife Hilary, who opened the family’s first theme park, Gulliver’s Kingdom in Matlock Bath, in 1978 - beginning a life-long passion for the family to provide great value days out and short breaks to generations of children across the UK.

Opening adjacent to Rother Valley Country Park in 2020, Gulliver's Valley is the company's fourth park aimed at families with children aged two to 13-years-old and each offering a great variety of rides, attractions and accommodation options, as well as a calendar packed full of special events throughout the year.

In Rotherham the Gulliver’s Gears area has been expanded with the opening of its new ‘Turbo Tower’ and ‘Crazy Planes’ rides.

Turbo Tower gives riders treetop views of the surrounding Rother Valley before plunging them down a 15m drop. Manufactured by SBF Visa, the ride is set to be one of the most popular at the resort.

Guests can now also buckle up and take a flight on the super Crazy Planes ride which spins guests through the skies!

The two new rides add to the motor-themed Gears area which already boasts the Grand Prix Racers roller coaster, Carfari which gives riders a delightful drive in vintage themed cars and the theme park classic, Dodge City dodgems.

Craig Seedhouse, resort director at Gulliver’s Valley, said: “In our fifth anniversary year, we are really excited to have our two newest rides open for all to enjoy, enhancing our Gulliver’s Gears area and giving people even more reason to pay our fantastic resort a visit this spring and summer!

“We are always looking at ways to enhance our park and bring new experiences and memories for families to enjoy and these new rides do just that. We’re really looking forward to a fun-packed season ahead and hope as many people as possible will come and join us. Gulliver’s Valley is better than ever!”

Advertisement
Later in the year Land of Lights, which will light up the skies at the Rotherham theme park, will be a mile-long visual voyage exploring 12 vivid dreamworlds of imagination and illumination.

The highly-anticipated festival, which has taken place at Gulliver’s resort in Milton Keynes since 2022 and Gulliver’s World Resort in Warrington since 2023, will now also see Gulliver’s Valley join the winter fun for the first time.

It will open on selected dates from November 2025 and run until January 2026.

Julie Dalton, managing director of Gulliver’s Theme Park Resorts, said: “Our Land of Light events have proven to be extremely popular at Milton Keynes and Warrington with each received thousands of visitors every year, so we are delighted to be extending into Gulliver’s Valley in Rotherham for the first time giving even more people the chance to experience what truly is a magical event.

“Land of Lights 2025 promises to be a breathtaking spectacle, featuring an all-new collection of lanterns covering 12 dreamworlds including an array of incredible dinosaurs. In addition, there will be music, entertainment and street food on offer.

“As a family-company, Gulliver’s is always looking at new ways for families to create magical memories and spend quality time together and Land of Lights does just that. The festival will also help to boost the local economy with the creation of more jobs and bringing more people into South Yorkshire which is always welcome news.

“It’s a fantastic attraction not just for those from the immediate area but we also expect people to visit from far and wide because it really is an eye-opening experience suitable for all the family. It’s a great opportunity to get Rotherham on the map and showcase something spectacular in the run up to Christmas.

“We are expecting a lot of interest so would encourage people to sign up to our exclusive mailing list which will shine a light on sneak peeks and big announcements. We hope as many people as possible will join us this winter.”

Land of Light won in the Best New Event category at last year's UK Theme Park Awards where Gulliver's Valley picked up a Gold award for Best Theme Park for families.

Gulliver's Valley website

Images: Gulliver's

Read more...

News: New heading for Rotherham sailing club

Contractors, Kier are making headway with a multimillion pound development at a Rotherham country park and now plans have been drafted for a new home for a local sailing club.

A £7.4m contract got underway at the end of 2024 for an improvement and regeneration project at Rother Valley Country Park in Rotherham, the centrepiece being a new waterfront café.

Rotherham Council confirmed last year that the scope for the project had reduced with some aspects of the orignal plans removed, affecting the future of Firbeck Sailing Club.

Advertisement
A planning application from Kier and Rotherham Council explains: "A new visitors centre is being provided on the existing site historically occupied by Firbeck Sailing Club. A development site had been designated just south of the Water Sports & Activities Centre building to rehome Firbeck Sailing club, however, due to budgetary restrictions associated with redeveloping this site, a new location has been selected further south along the lake which will provides a more cost-effective location to construct a new boat storage and welfare facility for Firbeck Sailing Club."

The new site is closer to the Cable Waterski & Aqua Park - the North of England's biggest cable wake park.

Proposals are to construct a sailing club with parking spaces, boat bays and a welfare unit. The secure storage compound also includes a slipway.

Built on grassland, the propsal will result in both the permanent and temporary loss and/or alteration of some of the habitats located on the proposed re-development site. Consultant's reports and the council's ecology department make a number of reccomendations regarding the loss of habitats and biodiversity net gain.

Securing money from the Government's Levelling Up Fund (LUF), £19.9m was awarded for a number of connected projects which aim to build a new leisure industry that responds to the challenges of economic recovery and health and well-being.

At Rother Valley, physical works were programmed to commence in Autumn 2024 and complete in Autumn 2025.

Images: Firbeck Sailing Club / Facebook

Read more...

News: The key Rotherham sites along a restored Chesterfield Canal

A newly published masterplan for the restoration of the Chesterfield Canal includes details of key sections through the Rotherham borough, and big opportunities for Kiveton and Rother Valley Country Park.

The vision is for the Chesterfield Canal corridor to be reclaimed as a place for the local community to live, enjoy, and be employed; for tourists and visitors to come, play and stay; for new and existing businesses to grow and prosper; and for nature and biodiversity to thrive.

A new high level Strategic Outline Case covers the corridor between Chesterfield and Kiveton Park. It includes new canal and water-based opportunities and introduces a range of activities to attract tourists and local residents.

Opening in 1777, the route passes Chesterfield, Retford, Worksop and Gainsborough. Partners and stakeholders have been restoring the waterway for a number of years but in the south of the Rotherham borough restoration work remains to be done. In 1907 a collapse in the Norwood Tunnel close to Kiveton severed the length from Chesterfield to Killamarsh from the national network. There now remains approximately 8.5 miles of the canal to be restored between Staveley and Kiveton Park to make the canal fully navigable once more.

In the new business case, 18 different hubs have been identified along the canal corridor, each with potential project ideas.

At Kiveton in Rotherham, the masterplan sets out how improving transport links and train services at Kiveton Park Station, alongside a restored canal, could open up nearby areas for a £100m redevelopment. The plans state that the former Wireworks and Astone Works sites "represents a significant economic regeneration opportunity. The land is allocated in the Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council Local plan as industry and business; however exploring mixed use with residential should not be discounted, these would potentially help sustain an enhanced link with the railway, with the canal and cycle networks providing the leisure opportunities for residents."

Kiveton Waters is also included in the masterplan. Here potential interventions centre on transforming existing fishing ponds into a marina. The site of the former Kiveton Park Colliery has been transformed into a natural landscape but the future could include a marina and relocated fishing ponds with a new cafe / cycle / kayak hire building. An enhanced country park at Kiveton could host new cycling and walking trails, boat trips and outdoor community events.

The site is over the collapsed Norwood Tunnel and pragmatic restoration would see the sound part of the tunnel from Kiveton Park in use to emerge and follow a surface route through the country park via locks. An idicative cost for Kiveton Waters is between £9m and £16m.

Advertisement
The masterplan also mentions land between Kiveton Community Woodland and the M1, south of Wales where a new surface route for the Chesterfield Canal would cross the motorway using an existing underpass. Authors say that with a new surface canal, the greenbelt site "holds potential for a mixed-use development that combines residential and commercial facilities" with a £41m cost.

Another option includes constructing a new, shorter tunnel under the M1 with greenspace preserved, and has a more modest cost of £5.7m.

West of the M1, and still in the Rotherham borough, the £4.1m restoration of Norwood Locks would involve extensive work to repair and rebuild the thirteen locks, making them navigable once more. Other interventions at this significant heritage feature on the edge of Nor Wood involve using a former water powered mill as a heritage centre and workshops, enhancing the old tunnel mouth and introducing an Arts and Interpretation Trail.

At Rother Valley, a popular country park in Rotherham, Nethermoor Lake would be utilised for the canal route due to the development of housing on the original route through Killamarsh.

Potential interventions in the masterplan include the development of a marina and mooring facilities. The plan states: "The link would connect the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation, Gulliver’s and Rother Valley Country Park with the Chesterfield Canal. This would promote tourism, and support economic development, potentially making Rother Valley and Nethermoor Lake a key junction in the network of restored waterways."

A significant engineering solution proposed for Nethermoor Lake at Rother Valley is the construction of a boat lift (sketch,top), similar to the Falkirk Wheel in Scotland. The plans state that the lift would be a quick and visually striking way to move boats, adding: "If implemented, the boat lift could become an iconic feature, drawing visitors and boosting local tourism and education as STEM demonstration project. However, the feasibility, costs, and long-term maintenance of such a structure would need weighed up in a cost / benefit analysis. The alternative and more pragmatic option [is] for a series of 6 - 8 locks."

The boat lift option has an idicative cost of £24m and the locks, £3m.

The Chair of the Partnership, Cllr Alex Dale, said: “Those of us who are close to the mission to restore the rest of the Chesterfield Canal, inherently know there are huge benefits economically, socially, environmentally and for the health and wellbeing of our local population. But as a partnership, it’s vital that we communicate the huge potential of a fully restored and navigable canal more publicly, especially for potential funders, to help secure the significant sums needed to finish the job. That is exactly what this new masterplan is all about."

Chesterfield Canal Partnership website

Images: Focus Consultants / Sigma Architects / Canal & River Trust

Read more...

News: Kier commit to country park upgrade in Rotherham

A £7.4m contract is underway for an improvement and regeneration project at Rother Valley Country Park in Rotherham.

Securing money from the Government's Levelling Up Fund (LUF), £19.9m was awarded for a number of connected projects which aim to build a new leisure industry that responds to the challenges of economic recovery and health and well-being.

Planning permission was secured for a £5.5m upgrade, the centrepiece being a new waterfront café, but the work has been delayed after market testing resulted in budgets being revised "as a result of the impact of inflation and the volatile national and international construction market."

Rotherham Council has confirmed that the scope for the project has now been reduced and it comes at an additional cost.

At Rother Valley the plans showed that the new café would have a seating capacity of 134 offering beautiful views over the lake. The seating area is also dual aspect - the café space looks over a new play area to the rear, creating a safer place for parents to watch while their children play.

Advertisement
Some aspects of the approved scheme have been removed such as a new, landscaped events space, a new riverside walk between the events space and the existing car park and the relocation of the cycle centre to a more prominent position. Consultation has been carried out regarding the the relocation of Firbeck Sailing Club to accommodate boat storage, access to the water and meeting facilities.

Having signed up for stage 1 of the contract with Rotherham Council, Kier Group Plc has now signed up at stage 2 for the construction of the new visitors centre, external works and the overflow car parks.

The contract has a total value of £7,484,897.30.

With Pathfinder status, Rotherham is able to make changes to its government-funded regeneration programmes and is no longer continuing with using Town Deal money for its Parkgate-Eastwood Bridge scheme that has faced complexities around Network Rail infrastructure and private land issues. Money for the bridge was moved to the country park schemes having been approved by cabinet.

Physical works were programmed to commence in Autumn 2024 and complete in Autumn 2025. Work has started on the car parking facilities, the first section is the area to the right of the main park road before the main bridge.

Last year Rothbiz revealed the ambitions of a masterplan for Rother Valley which could potentially include hosting bigger events, new play areas, zip slides and toboggan runs.

Rother Valley Country Park website

Images: RMBC

Read more...

News: Gulliver’s Theme Parks scoop national award

Gulliver’s Theme Park Resorts is celebrating after winning a prestigious award at a national awards ceremony.

The family-owned company, which has resorts Gulliver’s Kingdom in Matlock Bath, Gulliver’s World in Warrington, Gulliver’s Land in Milton Keynes and Gulliver’s Valley in Rotherham, walked away with a Gold award for Best Theme Park for families at the UK Theme Park Awards.

In addition, the Land of Light lantern festival which runs each winter at Gulliver’s Land in Milton Keynes and Gulliver’s World in Warrington won in the Best New Event category.

Gulliver’s Theme Park Resorts was founded by Ray Phillips and his late wife Hilary, who opened the family’s first theme park, Gulliver’s Kingdom in Matlock Bath, in 1978 - beginning a life-long passion for the family to provide great value days out and short breaks to generations of children across the UK.

Advertisement
Today, the company boasts four parks across the UK aimed at families with children aged two to 13-years-old and each offering a great variety of rides, attractions and accommodation options, as well as a calendar packed full of special events throughout the year.

The Gulliver’s business is now headed up by Ray and Hilary’s daughter, managing director Julie Dalton, along with her brother Nick Phillips, who is also a director.

Julie said: “We are delighted to have won the Best Theme Park for families at the UK Theme Park Awards. As a family-company, we strive to continually innovate bringing new ideas and activities for our guests to enjoy whether that be a visit to our theme park or a short stay break in one of our fabulous themed accommodation options. Creating magical memories and experiences for all the family is really at the heart of what we do so it means a lot to the entire Gulliver’s team when we are recognised by the industry in this way.

“To also get the gold award for best new event for Land of Lights is fantastic and just shows how well received the event has been. We can’t wait for the festivals to open again this November at both Gulliver’s World and Gulliver’s Land.”

Gulliver's Valley website

Images: Gulliver's

Read more...

News: Rising costs sees Rotherham country park regeneration schemes scaled back

Proposed regeneration schemes at two country parks in Rotherham have had to be scaled back with Thrybergh impacted most. Government funding has been reallocated so that the projects can go ahead.

Securing money from the Government's Levelling Up Fund (LUF), £19.9m was awarded for a number of connected projects which aim to build a new leisure industry that responds to the challenges of economic recovery and health and well-being.

A £2.5m improvement plan for Thrybergh Country Park moved a step closer last year after plans for a new café building were approved by the council.

At Rother Valley Country Park, planning permission has been secured for a £5.5m upgrade - the centrepiece being a new waterfront café.

Contractors were also lined up to carry out the work but a new council report states that, following market testing, both projects required "revised budgets as a result of the impact of inflation and the volatile national and international construction market."

Rotherham Council's cabinet are being asked to approve the new way forward which means that there is a "reduced scope" for the Thrybergh scheme where a new café building has been scrapped and replaced by a refurbished café and outside space.

At Rother Valley, plans for a new build waterfront café and new car park would go ahead, with some aspects, such as a landscaped events space taken out.

The council report states: "This option delivers most closely to the original intentions of the LUF scheme in that it will achieve improvements at both sites, creating impact for residents and delivering the greatest economic benefits and supporting the financial recovery of Rother Valley Country Park. However, this is at a reduced scope to that set out to Cabinet in August 2023 and it comes at an additional cost."

There has been an overall increase in the programme budget of £2.310m.

With Pathfinder status, Rotherham is able to make changes to its government-funded regeneration programmes and now plans to not continue with using Town Deal money for its Parkgate-Eastwood Bridge scheme that has faced complexities around Network Rail infrastructure and private land issues. Money for the bridge is expected to be moved to the country park schemes if approved by cabinet.

At Rother Valley, contractors, Kier are set to proceed with construction of the new facilities in September 2024 with completion in October 2025. The tender with I&G Ltd for Thrybergh will not proceed and a new procurement exercise will be required.

The report adds: "Supporting the financial recovery of Rother Valley County Park is seen as a priority for the Leisure & Culture Service with the new build café and events space seen as a critical step in achieving that goal.

"The alterations to the café at Thrybergh Country Park will enhance the current offer with planned improvements to the kitchen facilities enabling an upgrade to the menu along with an increase in the number of outdoor covers and improved access between the indoor and outdoor dining experience."

Images: RMBC / Kier ? I&G

Read more...

News: Rotherham is one of the UK's greenest places to live

An analysis of which UK towns and cities have the best access to green space has placed Rotherham right near the top.

There is the perception of the borough as still being an old industrial town but 70% of Rotherham is open countryside.

Eurocell, a manufacturer, distributor, and recycler of building products, has been looking at the issue of housing and the access to private gardens, local parks or national parks, and ranked towns and cities in the UK.

Rotherham is fourth in the rankings.

Eurocell looked at data including the number of homes in each area with a private garden, the average square footage of that garden, as well as the average distance to public green space and the percentage of homes on the market that are currently listed as having a private garden.

Nearby towns, Chesterfield and Mansfield, ranked first and second with Barnsley at nine.

Advertisement
In Rotherham, 95% of homes and flats have private outdoor space, the joint highest precentage in the report. With numerous parks in the borough, from Clifton Park in the town centre to the transformed former coalfield sites at Rother Valley and Manvers, the data showed that the average distance to the nearest park, public garden or playing field was 319.23 metres.

Beth Boulton, marketing director at Eurocell, said: “Outdoor space is hugely important for our health and well-being - it breathes life into a home and helps us to de-stress when we need to.

“Outdoor space has become a much bigger priority for homebuyers since the COVID-19 pandemic when many people started working from home for the first time. Since then, working from home has become much more of a norm for millions of people. The daily commute is no longer a good source of fresh air!

“We’ve seen a big spike in the number of people choosing to expand their home by utilising their outdoor space, such as with the introduction of using garden rooms as a home office. In most cases, planning permission isn’t necessary, so they’re a great solution for both adding more space to your home, but also potentially more value when you come to sell the property.”

Eurocell website

Images: Sheffield Cable Water Ski

Read more...

News: New parking scheme proposed for Rother Valley Country Park

Sheffield City Council has updated proposals to introduce a parking scheme near Rother Valley Country Park in Rotherham.

The proposal aims to improve access in the area and will look to address the types of parking that occurs near junctions and on footways predominantly because of visitors to the country park.

Operated by Rotherham Council, the park opened in 1983 following the restoration of an opencast mining site. It attracts 650,000 to 750,000 visitors per annum and hosts a number of popular sporting events.

With the park's western boundary bordering Sheffield, the city's local authority is looking to introduce a scheme on Rother Valley Way and Meadow Gate Avenue but has been in receipt of objections during its consultation.

The latest scheme will make changes to the road network, introduce a series of double yellow lines to prevent parking in unsuitable places and provide some improvements for pedestrian and cyclists.

Improvements to Rother Valley Way car park surfacing and visibility are intended to be included to make this more attractive to use and some on-street parking opportunities will be available as alternatives for busy times.

Plans include removing the roundabout junction at Rother Valley Way / Meadowgate Avenue from the network and repurposing this area to provide additional parking close to the park entrance. Other measures include extensive waiting restrictions at locations where parking should be prevented, traffic calming, new signage, and improvements to the visibility and access of the car park.

The cost would be an estimated £357,477.

Advertisement
The report makes clear that parking on street "will not be time limited or charged as part of this proposal. This is to minimise the risk of any displaced parking moving into residential streets and was highlighted in early stages of public consultation."

The 58 space car park is currently free and the report adds that "the management of car parks maintained by the council's Parks and Countryside service are presently under review so this may be subject to change in the future." Any changes would require further consultation.

A report to Sheffield City Council states: "The scheme will formalise the areas where safe on street parking can be accommodated and improve access to the Rother Valley Country Park. This will encourage use of the country park for outdoor activities such as walking and cycling which will improve health and wellbeing.

"The parking scheme will result in a safer more pleasant environment for residents and pedestrians. The proposals have been designed to restrict parking in locations that can cause obstruction or hazards but keep space free in suitable locations for residents or their visitors. It will also improve parking and access to Rother Valley Park for visitors."

Rother Valley Country Park introduced a new parking system inside the park in 2021. Using vehicle registration number plate recognition means that visitors pay for the time in the park at the pay machines or by card at the exit barrier. Fees are £1.00 per hour up to £6.00 for the day.

Images: Google Maps

Read more...

News: Council lines up contractors for £8m country park cafés

Contractors are close to being appointed for the multimillion pound upgrades at two of Rotherham's country parks, only rising costs have led to a little less levelling up as the schemes are scaled back.

Securing money from the Government's Levelling Up Fund, £19.9m was awarded for a number of connected projects which aim to build a new leisure industry that responds to the challenges of economic recovery and health and well-being.

However, refinement of the proposals has been necessary due to "cost constraints, inflation and market challenges."

At Rother Valley Country Park, planning permission has been secured for a £5.5m upgrade - the centrepiece being a new waterfront café.

The new café will have a seating capacity of 134 offering beautiful views over the lake. The seating area is also dual aspect - the café space looks over the new play area to the rear, creating a safer place for parents to watch while their children play.

At Rother Valley, Kier Construction Ltd is being lined up for the second stage of a two-stage design and build contract for the delivery of works.

An update from the council now shows that other aspects of the scheme have been dropped, including a light touch refurbishment of existing café, education centre, mill building and water wheel that would have improved facilities and developed the courtyard area. Further funding would also need to be found to improve and extend the existing play areas and improve car parking.

Rothbiz revealed the ambitions of a masterplan for Rother Valley which could potentially include hosting bigger events, new play areas, zip slides and toboggan runs.

Advertisement
At Thrybergh Country Park, planning permission has been secured for the demolition of the existing lakeside café and the erection of a replacement café building and seating terrace (cgi, above).

Replacing an existing building that is considered to be outdated and no longer fit for purpose, the new space will be able to accommodate 80 covers inside and 40 outside.

The Sewell Group and Illingworth and Gregory Ltd are set to be awarded the second stage of a two-stage design and build contract for the delivery of works at Thrybergh.

The £2.5m project had also included a new car park to provide an additional 152 spaces but an update from the council shows that this is no longer in the plans.

A report to Rotherham Council's cabinet explains that new cafés were top of the list during consultation. On the changes, the report adds: "During the development of the project scope and design, the volatile national and international construction market and the impact of inflation has increased the estimated costs of materials, construction, fees and the availability of contractors.

"The design has been prudent in ensuring adequate value engineering whilst meeting the aims of the Levelling Up Fund, public feedback and the Council’s objectives for the leisure economy."

Rothbiz reported last week that the council was set to use just over £1m from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to support the delivery of capital schemes in the LUF programme as shortfalls have been identified at Gulliver's Valley, Wentworth Woodhouse and Maltby Learning Trust.

Cllr. Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council said that "economic headwinds were against us" but added: "We want to deliver as much of it as possible. We are using some of our UKSPF money to top up some of our schemes that are coming through because right across they are all facing similar challenges. We are moving this as quickly and as sensibly as we can but we have to do that in a way that it is a proper product, not something that is bodged together."

RMBC website

Images: AHR

Read more...

News: Businesses urged to join with Yorkshire's Hidden Gems

Local businesses are being invited to join some of the region's biggest attractions as part of an initiative to support the visitor economy and encourage people to experience Yorkshire’s Hidden Gems.

The project stems from a pledge to work together to attract more visitors and increase local spend that was strengthened during the recent pandemic, with bosses at key tourism assets in Rotherham keen to see positivity and pride used to promote the area.

Assets to get involved range from theme parks to stately houses. They include Gulliver’s Valley, Wentworth Woodhouse, Magna Science Adventure Centre, Grimm & Co., Rotherham United, Rother Valley Country Park and Clifton Park.

The initiative follows the demise of Welcome to Yorkshire and the publishing of the de Bois Review - an independent review of destination management organisations in England.

Operated by Locial Ltd, Yorkshire's Hidden Gems is being supported by The Rotherham Pioneers - an exclusive group for Rotherham businesses who want to promote the town.

More local businesses are being sought to join the initiative and "become a gem." Attractions, restaurants, tea rooms, hotels, events, leisure spaces, cultural places, shops, anything that is a destination and can offer an experience.

Businesses can sign up for free to feature on the website and social media which promotes news, events and offers.

Businesses can also get involved for free with the Yorkshire’s Hidden Gems discount card scheme that uses offers, discounts and deals to encourage people to shop and visit local.

Advertisement
At £10 for the year, current offers for cardholders include £15 pp tickets for Gulliver's Valley and 25% off entrance to House and Garden admission at Wentworth Woodhouse. A number of giveaways are planned for the coming months.

Bright Stars Play Space, an engaging and educational play space for babies and toddlers in Parkgate, has joined the initiative.

Caroline Austen, founder of Bright Stars Play Space, said: "We are delighted to be part of Yorkshire's Hidden Gems. As a relatively new business, it puts us alongside the amazing local assets like Gulliver's and Wentworth Woodhouse, which is just fantastic. It's great to see our upcoming Easter parties, craft sessions, Daddy & baby sessions and baby rave on the events calendar.

"There's loads happening around here, I think we just need to shout about it more and uncover these hidden gems. As a family we've got a discount card and we are looking forward to using it, especially at Gulliver's Valley - our daughter's favourite place! If you buy a card for £10, you'll make your money back in savings even if you only go to Gulliver's once in the year."

Bright Stars Play Space website
Yorkshire’s Hidden Gems website

Images: Tom Austen

Read more...

News: Plans approved for Rother Valley revamp

Planning permission has been secured for the £5.5m upgrade to Rother Valley Country Park in Rotherham - the centrepiece being a new waterfront café.

With funding from the Government's Levelling Up Fund, £19.9m was awarded to Rotherham Council for a number of connected projects which aim to build a new leisure industry that responds to the challenges of economic recovery and health and well-being.

The plans for a new village centre have been drawn up by AHR Architects and ELG Planning Consultants and include the erection of a waterfront café building with function space to the first floor, the relocation of existing car parking to create a multi-use public open space, the creation of a new play area, the demolition of existing Rangers' bungalow and relocation of Rangers' compound and cycle hub, along with landscaping improvements and other associated infrastructure.

The much smaller existing café in the courtyard is set to remain but will focus on "grab and go" takeaway options.

The new café will have a seating capacity of 134 offering beautiful views over the lake. The seating area is also dual aspect - the café space looks over the new play area to the rear, creating a safer place for parents to watch while their children play.

The building would be constructed in a mix of charred timber, gabion walling and copper coloured anodised aluminium. Carbon neutral and locally sourced materials will also be utilised.

Advertisement
The site is within the Greenbelt and planners concluded: "The proposed new café will evidently significantly enhance the ancillary facilities supporting the overall function of the country park and will positively align with the key objective set out within the LPA’s [Rotherham Council's] Cultural Strategy (2019 -2016) of improving facilities at the Country Park.

"The proposed development will also enhance the attractiveness of the country park as a destination for outdoor recreation and will clearly support the LPA’s stated goal to “enable everyone to get active, get creative and get outdoors, more often.

"It is therefore considered that a new café building, and function space is an appropriate facility for outdoor recreation, as its presence will encourage visitors to the park, thus encouraging outdoor recreation in line with the LPA’s overarching strategic objectives. The existing café provides a practical and functional link to the well-established country park and the replacement café will be a continuation of this function."

A £2.5m improvement plan for Thrybergh Country Park, utilising the same funds, was approved last month.

Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion, Cllr. David Sheppard, said: “It’s fantastic to see the planned improvements to the facilities at Rother Valley and Thrybergh Country Parks which will develop the sites into a more attractive destination for visitors. Once the works are completed, the venues will support year-round events and provide a wide range of fun activities for people to take part in.

“We’re aiming to grow Rotherham’s leisure industry and expand economic opportunity for our residents, so that they can advance their skills and realise their ambitions.”

Works for both schemes are due to start later in the year.

Rothbiz has reported previously on further phases at Rother Valley which could potentially include hosting bigger events, new play areas, zip slides and toboggan runs.

Images: AHR

Read more...