
Seaside town dubbed ‘one of the best places to live' set for £7.8m revamp as major tourist attraction is transformed
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
A MAJOR seaside town is set to undergo a £7.8 million refurbishment.
The tourist hub has been dubbed 'one of the best places to live' and will reopen one of its major attractions on Saturday.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
3
East Lindsey District Council has launched a major rennovation project
Credit: Alamy
3
The plans will see the reopening of a major water park
Credit: East Lindsey District Council
3
A children's play ground is being opened near the water park
Credit: East Lindsey District Council
Sutton on Sea in Lincolnshire has earmarked £7.8 million in order to restore its tourist attractions.
A staggering £524,000 of that fund was poured into the local Maple Leaf Pool which first closed in 2023.
The huge cash injection has seen the park refitted with new interactive water features.
However, the final cost was £124,000 over budget, with East Lindsey District Council blaming the eyewatering spend on a new underground filtration system.
The council also blamed a rise in the price of materials and labour.
A new children's play area and a tennis court has also been built, alongside the renovations, and all three attractions will open on Saturday.
Ahead of the opening, Councillor Martin Foster said: "The pool has been a part of the history of Sutton on Sea, and we're pleased to see that it's going to be open for people to come along and enjoy."
The Maple Leaf Pool was first opened in 1954 and was a gift from the Canadian Kin Clubs.
It was opened shortly after the North Seas floods of 1953.
The rest of the £7.8 million is being funnelled into redeveloping the rest of Sutton on Sea.
Trendy English seaside town has rooftop bar that 'feels like the Med'
Named the Seaview Colonnade project, the Council's plan will see the redevelopment of the Colonnade and Pleasure Gardens.
This will involve a brand new pavilion, which will have an on-site cafe, restaurant and exhibition place.
Martin has confirmed that the council hopes to open the facility during the summer.
Sutton-on-Sea was named as one of the "best places to live" by the Sunday Times last year, in a huge boost for the town.
The news comes after another seaside town announced a major renovation project.
Once dubbed 'the worst place on Earth', Southend-on-Sea has seen several huge redevelopments in recent months.
Over £16 million will be poured into the town, with the bulk of the money going towards the development of Leigh Port and a Marine Parade.
Ahead of the developments, Labour's cabinet member for climate, environment and waste said she is working hard to ensure that costs are kept down.
Lydia Hyde said: "We're continuing to work with key partners to make sure the project protects our environment and is delivered in a cost-effective way."
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Range Rover to remove convenient feature for next-gen model as designer bizarrely calls it ‘dirty'
The decision was made after the firm's designers spoke to customers TAKEN OUT Range Rover to remove convenient feature for next-gen model as designer bizarrely calls it 'dirty' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE ELECTRIC Range Rover will not feature a front trunk, according to the designer of the hotly anticipated SUV. The vehicle is yet to officially debut, with only teasers of its design revealed so far - although fans will be pleased to know the EV version closely mirrors that of the combustion-engine model. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Range Rover Electric skips front trunk as designer calls it the 'dirtiest part' of the car Credit: Jaguar Land Rover 4 Customer feedback keeps rear cargo space unchanged but rules out a seven-seat option Credit: Jaguar Land Rover 4 Lessons from the Jaguar I-Pace drive improvements in reliability and efficiency for the new model Credit: Jaguar Land Rover But one convenient feature found in many electric vehicles won't be included - in a decision partly based on customer feedback. The car's designer, Lynfel Owen, recently referred to the front of the car as the "dirtiest part" and questioned why anyone would want to lean against it to use a front trunk. In an interview with CarExpert, Owen said: 'Why would I want to lean against the dirtiest part of the car to put stuff in?' He explained his reasoning in greater detail: 'We spoke to our customers… none of them have an issue [with] lack of storage space. 'The rear cargo space is exactly the same. We haven't had to raise the floor. The only compromise we have to make is we're not able to offer a seven-seat derivative.' Owen has spent the last decade overseeing JLR's transition to electric power, having risen to chief engineer of vehicle engineering for the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Defender models. 'I pretty much only ever worked on Range Rover,' he said. 'I've done a few other projects. I didn't work on the [Jaguar] I-Pace. I was working on the previous-generation Range Rover.' To that end, the I-Pace - launched under the Jaguar brand as the first premium all-electric SUV from any manufacturer when it was revealed in 2016 - became infamous for reliability issues, particularly with its electric drivetrain and battery pack. We've been doing our low-mu testing on the frozen lakes Lynfel Owen, Chief Engineer Jaguar Land Rover Its poor customer satisfaction prompted Jaguar Land Rover to learn from its failures, focusing on reliability, improved thermal management and customer-centric design in the development of the Range Rover Electric. Iconic British car brand to begin 'new era' with 'urban SUV' to be launched next year Owen said: 'We're making sure we learn from, you know, our mistakes with respect to I-Pace. 'So we're testing all aspects of the car… we've just had a northern hemisphere winter that we've completed, so we've been doing our low-mu testing on the frozen lakes.' He added: 'Some people have got [chargers] bolted on. Their garage might have two or three cars… [so you don't have to use a] 15 metre cable. 'Cabin comfort. Battery temperature. Whether it's to cool it down, whether it's to warm it up. Recovering heat from the air at minus 15… It also reduces the heating energy consumption by over 40 per cent [compared to I-Pace].' This includes the decision to forgo a front trunk, with the rear cargo volume remaining unchanged from the combustion-engine version and the 117-kWh battery pack accommodated without raising the floor. This approach contrasts with the I-Pace, which offered a small front storage compartment. Indeed, due to packaging constraints, the electric Range Rover will only be available with two rows of seats - which rules out a seven-seat option. While a spare wheel will be offered, it will reduce luggage capacity as it will sit above the cargo floor. Much like the upcoming Range Rover, Mercedes' electric G-Class also lacks a front trunk - although they compensated with a uniquely styled tailgate-mounted cargo box. The electric Range Rover will not compete with the G580, Owen claims, as it offers unmatched off-road capabilities, combined with Range Rover's famed luxury. The electric Range Rover's world premiere is expected later this year, with deliveries expected to begin in 2026.


Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
I was commuting 3 hours a day to my dead end job & barely saw my kids – now my self-taught side hustle has made me £327k
Desiree decided to start her side hustle, after her divorce left her needing extra cash CASH IN I was commuting 3 hours a day to my dead end job & barely saw my kids – now my self-taught side hustle has made me £327k Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A WOMAN has revealed how she ditched her dead end job for a side hustle that makes her £327,000. Desiree Hill, 39, was sick of travelling three hours a day to her medical assistant job, where she earned £28,000. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Desiree taught herself how to fix cars Credit: CNBC Make It 2 She now runs her own business Credit: CNBC Make It She worked long hours, and never got to see her kids, which she says "took a toll", on her mental health. After getting divorced in 2018, Desiree, from Atlanta, Georgia, decided that she needed to earn some extra cash to provide for her two children. After deliberating about how to do this, she decided that it would be a great idea to buy, repair and resell rundown cars. "Everybody needs transportation, that's never going to stop, no matter what", she told CNBC Make It. "I knew that it was something that I could spend a small amount on, and potentially make a lot of profit." Desiree's first project was an old truck that she bought for £893 and did up herself, despite having no prior experience. Using Google and YouTube, she was able to teach herself how to fix the vehicle, which she realised just needed a replacement throttle which set her back just £44. "I just fixed this vehicle with a $60 part, and I didn't have to pay anybody to do it", she said. Desiree went on to sell that first truck for £2977, meaning she made £2040 profit. "It was almost like a high. I wanted to keep doing it", she said. I earn cash by selling 'actual rubbish' on eBay - I flogged a freebie I found on the floor by a bin for £10, it's crazy She kept flipping and selling cars whilst working full time in healthcare. After work, she would make dinner and then put the kids to bed before working on the cars until three in the morning, even though she had to be up at six for work. In 2020, Desiree flipped and sold 38 cars, and decided that now was the time to leave her job. She documented her journey on social media, which helped to build her client base. Side hustles in numbers Based on new research from Finder, an estimated 22.8 million Brits are using side hustles to top up their income. Among those aged 18-23, 68 percent have a side hustle in 2024. Those aged 24-42 aren't far behind, with 65 per cent having an additional source of income. Side hustles are less popular among older generations, with 40 percent of those aged 43-54 having one. Whereas 23 percent of people aged 55-73 and just 7 per cent of those aged 74 and over are earning extra cash this way. The mum now has 120,000 TikTok followers, and in 2021 launched a mobile repair service, where she would travel to people's houses and fix their vehicles. She found this to be much less stressful, as she didn't have to worry about whether the car was going to sell, and made exactly the same amount of money as the car flipping. Desiree decided to switch from flipping cars to being a mechanic, and her business grew so rapidly that she was able to hire a mechanic and rent a repair space in a shop for £297. A kind client then offered her a whopping £7500 loan, which enabled her to buy a larger space, and she now owns Crowns Corner Mechanics, which raked in £327,000 in 2024. She now gets to spend much more time with her family, and her kids now even help out at the shop.


Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Charming English town is getting new £42million train station that will reopen key link shut for over 60 years
BACK ON TRACK Charming English town is getting new £42million train station that will reopen key link shut for over 60 years Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A RURAL English town has been given the green light for a new £42million train station that will reopen a vital link. After more than 60 years without a railway station, Cullompton has been granted funding by the Department of Transport and HM Treasury. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Cullompton has been given the green light for a new £42million train station Credit: Alamy 2 The new station will also be next to the motorway services at Junction 28 of the M5 Credit: Alamy The announcement is set to turbo-charge the economy of the Devon town and provide desperately needed transport links for locals and visitors. The funding will also help to support plans for a new station in Wellington. Cullompton station first opened in 1844 and closed in 1964. The reopening will be key to enabling the Culm Garden Village development, which will create around 5,000 homes. The new station will also be next to the motorway services at Junction 28 of the M5. Councillor Jacqi Hodgson, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity, said: 'Further investment in rail infrastructure in Devon is always welcome and this railway station for Cullompton is key to the town's economic growth and will help reduce carbon emissions in the county. "People need improved public transport options if they're going to be encouraged to change their travel habits. "Hopefully Cullompton could follow the success of Okehampton Station and the re-opening of the Dartmoor Line, which is a great example of what can be achieved given the necessary funding from government.' In April, a delegation of 30 people from the region travelled to London to hand-deliver powerful letters of support to rail minister Lord Hendy. Backed by a cross-party group of South West MPs and Wellington Town Council, the letters stressed how restoring rail links to both Okehampton and nearby Wellington could unlock major economic, social and environmental benefits. Lord Hendy said: 'The stations would contribute to sustainable development, connecting new residential areas with regional employment, education and healthcare opportunities. "The case for taking a combined approach presents significantly higher value for money compared with a stand-alone project in either area.' He added: 'Reopening Cullompton and Wellington stations would be a strategic investment aligning with the Government's goals to drive economic growth, reduce environmental impact and improve social mobility.' Economic growth Gideon Amos, who also backed the scheme, said: 'For the cost of around £42 million, £180 million of economic growth would go into the region — which I know the Government would want to see. 'Frankly, there is no other rail project in the south-west that is ready to go and could be built and completed in the next two years, as the project is so far advanced. 'In fact, had it not been for the review in July last year, the spades would be in the ground and the platforms under construction, because the contract was about to be let and the detailed design was almost finished.' And Labour MP Simon Lightwood added in the Commons: 'The strategic objectives are clear. "Enhancing public transport connectivity will support growth and productivity in Exeter, Taunton and Bridgwater, while also reducing road congestion, car dependency and carbon emissions.' He continued: 'The stations would contribute to sustainable development, connecting new residential areas with regional employment, education and healthcare opportunities." This comes as satellite images of a new £15million train station at Okehampton were revealed. The station, which will be the newest addition to the Dartmoor Line, connecting West Devon, Torridge and North Cornwall with Exeter and beyond, will also benefit education and leisure services in the region. GWR Regional Growth Manager David Whiteway said the project would provide "valuable support for the community and local economies". Satellite images show the rapid development of the £15million scheme, which is being funded by the Department for Transport with contributions from Devon County Council and West Devon Borough Council. Since work began in January, major progress has been made to create the new station on the edge of Okehampton, two minutes from the A30. In March, 300 metres of the single-line track was moved 90cm north to allow a new platform to be built alongside it.