A WATERPARK that only reopened this summer has revealed that it plans to start serving booze from as early as 8am.
Alpamare in Scarborough has been branded “insane and irresponsible” for its proposals to have alcohol for sale in the morning in its on-site cocktail bar.
The bar is one of several attractions at the park, which only reopened at the end of last month after almost a year of being shut down.
The park was taken over by its new owners, Flamingo Land, who run a theme park of the same name in Yorkshire.
However its previous owners North Yorkshire Council previously submitted the application to serve alcohol as far back as June.
Should the application be granted, the park could serve alcohol from 8am until 10pm each day.
There would be some restrictions to go along with the drinks service, with booze restricted to certain parts of the waterpark.
For instance, drinking would not be permitted in the wave pool, or on the flumes.
Children’s areas and changing rooms would also be off-limits for alcoholic drinks, while only people with tickets for the park would be permitted to buy them.
Several residents have voiced their concerns about the proposals, with some worried about the staff members’ age and experience, according to the BBC‘s local democracy reporting service.
That includes Esther Morrison, who said: “With the best will in the world, even if Flamingo Land is able to achieve and maintain the staffing levels needed for public safety, those staff are unlikely to be old enough or experienced enough to handle customers under the influence of alcohol.
“It is insane and irresponsible to contemplate allowing alcohol to be served at Alpamare.”
Fellow objector David Knowles asked: “Do you really want drunk mums and dads in a swimming complex?”
The proposals are now due to be scrutinised by North Yorkshire councillors, who will eventually decide whether to grant the permission or not.
Sun Travel has contacted Flamingo Land for comment.
Regardless of whether or not Alpamare can serve drinks first thing in the morning, guests have already began making the most of Alpamare after it finally reopened this summer.
Experts have revealed some of their top advice for both adults and kids heading to the water this summer:
How to stay safe at the beach
Gareth Morrison, Head of Water Safety at the RNLI said: “If you find yourself being swept out to sea in a rip, try to relax and float until you are free from the rip and you can then swim to safety.
“If you see someone else in danger, alert a lifeguard or call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.”
How to stay safe at the swimming pool
Tiny Hearts Education, former paramedic and CEO Nikki Jurcutz said: “Always put your little one in bright or contrasting colours that would be easy to find in an emergency.
“It only takes 20 seconds to drown, little tips like this could save a life”.
An Auqabliss spokesperson added: “Swimming toys such as noodles, dive rings, floaties and beach balls can be dangerous if left in the pool.
“Children may try to grab these from the pool’s edge and fall in.”
How to stay safe at a waterpark
Ali Beckman, Puddle Ducks Technical Director, said: “Never send a child down the slide on their own, not only are they going to be entering the slide pool area independently, they then have to exit the pool and wait for an adult.
“And wave pools should be avoided until your child is really confident with water going over their faces and you know they are able to regain their feet independently.
“Waterparks are often very busy places and it’s easy to lose sight of a child in a split second.”
It also has two heated outdoor pools, one of which is a 35C infinity pool that looks out over the beach.
There are also four slides and wave machine, along with an alpine-themed spa for adults to relax in.
Other features include scenic gardens, a sunbathing terrace next to the infinity pool and a “splash and play” area for younger kids.
Its website promises guests the “biggest, fastest and wettest” waterpark they have ever visited.
It reads: “All the way from the Alps, Alpamare Scarborough is a waterpark like no other.
“If you love adventure, it’s time to experience the biggest, the fastest, the wettest, the warmest, the cleanest, the waviest, the newest, the funniest, the most unlike-any-waterpark-you’ve-seen before waterpark.”
Meanwhile, this is the UK’s first swim up bar and Sun Travel visited it to see what it’s like.
And here are five new water attractions set to open in the UK throughout the next year.
