New hope for Wicksteed Park after company steps in to help
There's fresh hope for Wicksteed Park after a company announced plans to save it in the short term.
Wicksteed Park in Kettering was opened by Charles Wicksteed in 1921 and claims to be the oldest theme park on the UK mainland and one of the oldest in the world.
The park is owned by the Wicksteed Charitable Trust but is run by a separate subsidiary company, Wicksteed Park Limited.
That subsidiary company had called in the administrators due to the huge financial strain of the coronavirus pandemic - resulting in the loss of 115 jobs.
However the Wicksteed Charitable Trust in partnership with Tollers solicitors have put together a plan for a new company that, with support from the Trust and the local community, will enable the park to survive through to 2021. It's hoped by which time the threat of Coronavirus may have lessened to enable the park and its attractions to fully open its gates to the public once more.
At the heart of the deal was the Trust’s determination to ensure that while the attractions remain closed, there was sufficient funding available to enable the parkland and pavilion to stay open so that the local community can still visit and enjoy the surroundings.
In addition there was a pledge to honour any bookings for events and shows in the park which customers will be able to reschedule for a future date.