NINE companies are waiting in the wings to bid for the multi-million pound redevelopment of the Bubbles site in Morecambe. A development brief for the Dome/Bubbles complex on the promenade has been drawn up and councillors hope an ambitious scheme will help transform Morecambe into the North West's leading resort. Although a local campaign group has been set up to try and save Bubbles from closure, a major redevelopment of the aging site is almost certainly on the cards.

"The council is committed to maximising investment in Morecambe - particularly it's tourist attractions," said council leader, Stanley Henig.

"We've already drawn in over £50 million investment for the regeneration of the central area including the Platform, Superbowl, Multiplex Cinema and the Winter Gardens. A major development to still further enhance the facilities at the Bubbles site will be another major step in making Morecambe the number one resort in the North West."

Morecambe councillor Derrick Stanley said: "This is a prime opportunity for a quality development to compliment the work already carried out in the resort."

The council says it is prepared to be flexible about the use of the site and will consider a wide range of options, including indoor recreational and sporting facilities, an entertainment venue, hotel and self-catering accommodation, outdoor recreational uses and open space.

Nine developers are said to have already expressed an interest and others have until the end of October to register their ideas.

But a spokesman for the Dome said that they still hoped to see the existing facilities revamped.

"The Dome is special and unique and the entire complex is in relatively good shape but it's been short of investment," he said. "It could be revamped as it is and more money spent on promoting the resort as a whole. Morecambe needs a public pool and it would be sad if we lost the Dome."

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