Outdoor beach and go-kart track possibilities as Northampton play centre looks at reopening plans

Owners of the play area have grown increasingly more frustrated that they are not allowed to reopen
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A popular soft play centre is drawing up plans to reopen the parts of the attraction that are allowed to be open to the public.

The Hub in Riverside, alongside soft play centres across the country, were not included in the latest list of businesses that have been given the green light to reopen.

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Nightclubs, sexual entertainment venues and soft play centres must still remain closed.

Ellis Potter, one of the owners of the Hub, went to Westminster to deliver a petition to reopen soft play centres.Ellis Potter, one of the owners of the Hub, went to Westminster to deliver a petition to reopen soft play centres.
Ellis Potter, one of the owners of the Hub, went to Westminster to deliver a petition to reopen soft play centres.

However, the owners of the Hub are so frustrated by the decision that they delivered a petition to Westminster last week dressed as a giant teddy bear and are now looking into creating a safe outdoor space with a beach and a go-kart track so they can partially reopen.

Valentina Potter, owner of the attraction, said: “How can they class adults getting drunk in nightclubs, or a ‘sexual entertainment venue’ in the same risk category as kids going to play whilst supervised by a responsible adult in a place where every safety precaution imaginable has been implemented?

“This time next year there will be almost no indoor leisure for kids left in this country.

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“When you drive to these places on a rainy day and all that’s there is a boarded up building, it will be too late to do anything about it.

The owners are frustrated that they cannot yet reopen.The owners are frustrated that they cannot yet reopen.
The owners are frustrated that they cannot yet reopen.

“What business can survive eight months or more of closure, with massive outgoings just like nothing has changed and almost zero income coming in, while receiving zero support from the Government?”

Despite their frustrations, the owners are determined to get some form of fun up and running once again for children, by creating a safe outdoor environment.

Valentina added: “We must try as hard as we can to preserve any shred of indoor kid’s leisure, or the only option for entertainment our children will have on a rainy day is TV and computer screens.

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“As I was banging my head against the wall, I had a brilliant idea: If we lock the main parking compound of the Hub, I can create a large completely enclosed and secure outdoor area.

“I could make a go-kart track and a giant beach area. All the fun stuff we can take outside, we will take outside.

“We shall contact the Council and the Environmental Health Organisation to present them with our case for a partial re-opening of the Hub.

“We shall close off the soft-play and role-play areas and open the facilities that are allowed to open in a Covid-secure way.”

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As well as the go-kart track and beach area, the Hub is also planning to open an outdoor kitchen for candyfloss and burgers.

The outdoor area will take away half of the car parking spaces, but the owners believe there will be enough room for everyone to park as there will be a much smaller capacity allowed at any one time.

Plans are still being worked out, but it is hoped that the new take on the Hub will be able to open in August.

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