Flambards closes after theme park becomes ‘unsustainable’

Cornwall theme park Flambards has announced it is to permanently close after it became “unsustainable” to continue operating.

The park in Helston was two years short of its 50th anniversary, after originally being opened as the Cornwall Aero Park.

The decision was announced after the October half-term holidays. The park has been owned by Livingston Leisure since 2013, when it bought it from the family of the park’s founder, Douglas Kingsford Hale MBE.

In a statement, the company said: “This difficult decision was reached only after all possible avenues had been exhausted and we fully recognise the impact of this closure on the local community and the sense of loss that it may bring.

“Despite significant and ongoing investment since its rescue from closure in 2012 by the current owners, rising costs and a steady decline in visitor numbers have made the park’s operation and further investment unsustainable.”

This year it has retired several of its rides because of “insurmountable” problems to find the parts and expertise to maintain the machinery. The park’s Victorian Village exhibition also needs “extensive remedial work”.

The park’s indoor play centre, Ferdi’s Funland, will re-open as a standalone attraction later this month.