A bold new proposal aims to restore one of Bournemouth past sentiments, which marked the town gardens nearly ten years ago.
First launched in 1998, the Bournemouth balloon became a symbol of the towns vibrant spirit – floating above the gardens, the balloon was visible from other landmarks such as the beach and pier.
It was removed in June 2016 for ‘essential maintenance’ but was never repaired by S&D Leisure, the company that ran the attraction.
A local to Bournemouth, Simone Ippolito has begun an incentive to bring back Bournemouth’s past landmark but with a 21st century upgrade.
He said: “With the help from MPs and the council, an efficient and effective plan can be put in place in order to make the project [a] reality”
The project lead has already had the research, planning and safety requirements proposed alongside set-up and operating costs, further cementing the projects likeliness to be fulfilled.
Simone hopes to finish the project within a certain time frame but said: “I reckon personally it’ll take a couple months to get started and then another five to six months to put in place”
He hopes that the return of the balloon will provide a much-needed boost to Bournemouth’s tourism economy and could become a focal point for community events.
“For me bringing the balloon back would also bring back energy to Bournemouth and remind people of the good old times”
With the help of the local stakeholders and the community, the hot air balloon, that once defined this town, could have its comeback within the next year.
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