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Christian theme park plans back on



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Published Date: 06 October 2008
A Wigan company's plans to create the country's first Christian theme park are back on the table after proposals to site it in Southport collapsed.
Last month, it was revealed that Standish-based religious group AH Trust wanted to build a 5,000-capacity Bible-themed tourist attraction in neighbouring Chorley.

However, interest in the £3.5m scheme waned after the group announced it was looking
at Merseyside sites.

Now, Alan Wright of the AH Trust, says the Chorley option could be back on the cards after the plans had a cool response in Southport.
He said: "Our costs to build the theme park are £3.5m but because Southport is a desired area it would cost £4.75m.

"We asked people in Southport would they, in the way of grants, give us the extra £1.25m to enable us to build the park, but they laughed."
The charity group say they are focusing their attentions on Chorley, which already has the Camelot Theme Park at Charnock Richard, and they have already found a potential site.

However, the location is not being revealed until negotiations with the current owners are completed.
Mr Wright said: "Finding 20 acres of land without council support is mission impossible.

"When we are asked are we thinking of building the complex in a certain area, our answer is 'yes', providing we can build the complex for £3.5m and this means council backing."

The park will include two interactive cinemas, a cafeteria, six shops and a television recording studio to produce Christian-themed documentaries.

There are also plans for three exhibition centres containing 3D cinematic holograms depicting stories from the Bible.
The park would be the first of its kind in Britain, following the success of Holy Land Experience in Florida where visitors can see an image of Jesus forced to carry his cross by Roman soldiers.

When initial plans were unveiled last month, the scheme received widespread support from local business people, organisations and even the boss of Camelot Theme Park.
The council also said it was "more than happy" to support the scheme.



The full article contains 356 words and appears in Wigan Evening Post newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 06 October 2008 10:09 AM
  • Source: Wigan Evening Post
  • Location: Wigan
 
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06/10/2008 12:56:48
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06/10/2008 14:28:14
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henchman,

Wigan 06/10/2008 15:01:46
Aah, religion. Responsible for more deaths worldwide than anything else, all in the name of the religion you follow be it Muslim, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish. How long was the religious civil war between catholics and protestants going on for in Northern Ireland? How long have the jews been fighting over the Gaza Strip? When was the catholic church outlawed in Britain which led to the dissolution of the monastries and the martyrdom of how many priests? Different religions fighting over which God is the greatest and the only God! Follow which one you choose which suits you the best but they've all got rules which you have to stick to to get into 'heaven'. Good luck to the AH Trust on getting it off the ground. They'll be asking for donations on the telly soon, just like in America. Send me your money and I'll save your soul!
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06/10/2008 16:03:00
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Chalkface,

Wigan 06/10/2008 22:17:19
The solution is simple. If you don't like it, don't go. Same rules apply as any other place - if you don't like the cinema, church, the Trafford Centre or Windsor Castle then don't go.

The theme park will soon go out of business if people dont go just as they have with Camelot which is supposedly being sold off for a massive housing estate.
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06/10/2008 22:39:50
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celedrialjoy,

wigan 07/10/2008 08:29:40
Although I am not overly religious, In a funny way I find it quite comforting that for once in our recent history Christianity is pushing its way forward.
As a child myself and family attended church and later on the Salvation army, and I must say that the community feel that I gained from attending these services has stayed with me throughout my life.
So yes I think that this could be a good idea why should Christianity not be celebrated in whatever form it takes, the people of this country have had many of their traditional views stripped from them by various PC brigades, But I also agree with above comments if it were a mosque or some other religion it would have more chance of getting off the ground under the banner of multiculturism.
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leviticus,

07/10/2008 12:03:42
a christian theme park? this will never get any help from a government dept because it might upseta minority ,but if their homosexual or muslim friends wanted to set up a theme park to cater for their views etc they would be bending over backwards to dole out grants for it
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bluehaze,

07/10/2008 13:12:15
...A CHRISTIAN theme park? Seriously?

''centres containing 3D cinematic holograms depicting stories from the Bible.''

Wow. That's seriously awesome.
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henchman,

Wigan 07/10/2008 17:22:53
A close friend of mine is an ordained church minister and believes in Jesus and God. Even he can't convince me that thereis an almighty being called God and there is no real proof that there is one. There's even doubts over the authenticity of the Turin shroud and the tomb from which Jesus allegedy rose from the dead. I'm going home watching Life of Brian, not a poke at religion but a poke at the religious factions of the middle east who still fight amongst themselves, all aiming for the same goal. You know this film is still banned in certain places? Believe in God and Jesus if you wish, I don't knock anyone for it. I don't believe in God myself, or the 'after life'.
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