The iconic bumpy slide at Sandham Raceway is set to disappear from Sandown’s skyline in the very near future after some 27 years, as the astroslide goes up for sale on popular auction website eBay.
The ride, enjoyed by many over the years, is set to be dismantled and sold due to the lease on the land running out, with attraction owner Ross Edgerton unsure if he has been successful in the tendering process for the lease from the Isle of Wight Council for 2015 and beyond.
Ross has estimated that it could cost up to £10,000 to dismantle, remove, store and then reinstate the slide therefore deeming it too expensive to keep, as he faces the very real possibility that he may not get the lease for next year. With the ride trading season underway, Ross says he cannot wait any longer for the Council’s decision and therefore must sell now before it’s too late.
Other rides at the Fort Street attraction are being removed today (Friday), as bidding gets underway for the multi-coloured slide on eBay.
The news comes as another blow for the town of Sandown, which has seen a number of businesses close in recent years including Bailey’s in the High Street, which closed recently. Several planning applications have been submitted to rejuvenate the area, but are yet to be approved by the Isle of Wight Council.
It is unknown who else has tendered for the lease on the land, but flooding restrictions and historical interests prevent certain developments on the land.
John Metcalfe, head of economy and tourism at the Isle of Wight Council, said:
“The current lease for the site has expired and the council is in the process of evaluating bids for a new lease. We will let the bidders know the outcome of the process as soon as possible”.