An oil rig art installation is set to inspire Weston-super-Mare this summer
200,000 people are expected to claim free tickets for See Monster
A decommissioned North Sea oil rig set to inspire Weston-super-Mare this summer will recruit locals and encourage visitors to use the town's shops, eateries and hotels.
Detailed proposals for See Monster reveal some 200,000 people are expected to claim free tickets for the art installation at the Tropicana.
Applicant New Substance says it will celebrate great British weather and be a testbed for the latest in renewable energy products, kitted out with wind turbines and solar trees.
North Somerset Council leaders have already given their support, saying it will provide long-term benefits to Weston.
Work is due to start in March, with the site cleared by the end of October.
In place for 10 weeks, the venue will open daily until 10pm, with up to 15 special events ending at 11pm. It will open at 11am but for the first three weeks local residents will be given priority access at 9am on weekends, with the same slot open to schools and for quiet sessions during the week.
New Substance said in its planning application: "Drawing on Weston-super-Mare’s unique locality, the project aims to shine a light on the resilience of our coast, creating opportunities and generating new possibilities for the life of this retired structure.
"After a lifetime at sea, the regenerated platform will showcase renewable energy from the natural elements, in celebration of the great British weather and British eccentricity. It will explore the concept of inherited structures, be those physical, social, or environmental."
The towering structure will feature planted gardens and a waterfall. Its height – almost as tall as the Atlantic Grand Hotel – will afford visitors great views of the town, and across the beach to the Bristol channel.
The plans say: "Where possible, all employment opportunities related to the project will be advertised locally through the council website as well as New Substance’s and seemonster.co.uk, with opportunities including production, carpentry, security and other operational roles.
"There will also be a wide range of other opportunities available, including volunteer gardening, explainers, and volunteer wayfinding hosts, all of which will be a great chance for locals to become ambassadors for the town.
"New Substance are committed to also ensuring that once people have visited the installation they reside in the town and this is why we will not be placing any food and beverage on-site, as we want people to leave us and go into town to explore, shop and eat."
See Monster an "exciting" and "very significant" opportunity for Weston
Supporting the application, North Somerset Council chief executive Jo Walker said: "See Monster represents an exciting and very significant opportunity for Weston, which supports both our vision around tackling inequality and climate change and our placemaking ambitions for the town.
"It has the potential for creating a lasting impact across community engagement, education & skills, the town centre and visitor economies.
"We are also keen to ensure that the maximum range of opportunities are secured for local partners to contribute to and benefit from the project, whilst ensuring that any impacts are appropriately considered and addressed.
"We look forward to continuing to work with the New Substance team to deliver long-term benefits to our residents, businesses, creative sector and visitors."