Resort's Atlantis water park site to be summer miniature tank driving course

The former Atlantis site, also once known as Watersplash World, had been earmarked for a new Legoland Discovery Centre which was to have

been a new jewel in the crown of the resort's revamped North Bay.

But Legoland's U-turn over the scheme – after bosses decided

Scarborough was not busy enough to warrant the investment – created a huge gap in the attractions around Peasholm Park and the North side promenade.

Yesterday Scarborough Council announced a temporary solution to the site. A miniature tank driving course is set to be created on the land.

The new summer attraction, which will feature up to four tanks, will be operated by Crazy Combat, which already runs similar attractions at Primrose Valley near Filey and the Flamingo Land theme park at Kirby Misperton.

The miniature tanks have been featured on Channel Five's The Gadget Show and more recently on Look North and are a new venture for the operators of Crazy Combat.

As part of the licence agreement drawn up between Scarborough Borough Council and Crazy Combat for the 2010 summer season, there will also be a laser tag shooting game zone on the site and two inflatables.

Coun Janet Jefferson, Scarborough Borough Council's portfolio holder for tourism and leisure, said: "This is great news for the North Bay of Scarborough and adds to the choice for visitors to our town.

"This new attraction for the Atlantis site can only be good news for the summer ahead and I'm looking forward to a great season for the whole of Scarborough."

Scarborough Borough Council Strategic Director David Archer, said: "This is another valuable attraction on The Sands development, which, with the magnificent new Open Air Theatre, keeps the momentum going.

"We are delighted to have entered into an agreement with Crazy Combat for the summer season.

"It's an attraction that has already proven popular elsewhere and we believe it will appeal to the thousands of visitors who come to Scarborough each summer."

He stressed the Atlantis site was still earmarked for redevelopment as part of The Sands project but Scarborough Council was eager for it to be utilised during the summer season.