Los Angeles, Ca
Universal Studios exploring building new theme park
A new Universal theme park may be coming to the United Kingdom and the entertainment and attractions giant is asking Britons for their input.
Last year, Universal purchased a 476-acre parcel of land outside of Bedford, England, about 55 miles north of London, to explore the possibility of building a new theme park and resort. It would not only be the first Universal theme park in the U.K., but the first in all of Europe.
Over the last several months, the company says it’s been researching the feasibility of such a project and discussing it with local and national stakeholders.
While the project remains just an idea at this time, Universal is now asking for the public to chime in with their opinions on how a potential park might affect their lives and how the company could best honor and celebrate the region in a respectful manner.
“We have started a public engagement period on our potential theme park and resort experience in Bedford,” a Universal Destinations & Experiences spokesperson told Nexstar. “This represents the next step in our ongoing due diligence and feasibility work and is an opportunity for us to share early thinking on our plans and secure feedback.”
The park would be built south of Bedford on a 700-acre piece of property which includes the 476 acres purchased last year and a smaller parcel that Universal has the option to acquire.
The company said the area is already allocated for development and has the flat topography that a large-scale theme park resort would require.
The site has easy access to fast passenger rail service connecting to London and London Luton Airport, and a new regional rail project currently under construction that will connect Cambridge to Oxford would also provide additional rail service.
The Bedford region has a rich blue-collar history, Universal says, and was once the principal supplier of bricks throughout the British construction industry. While those brick plants were torn down decades ago, the industry left an indelible mark on those who called the region home and still do to this day.
Universal says it’s interested in incorporating some of the bricks still found on-site into some of the potential buildings and designs and even incorporate other aspects of the town’s history into food and drink facilities or future attractions.
For Universal, England is a logical place to develop a park and increase its influence. The company says 38 million U.K. residents traveled to its theme parks around the globe this past year, spending as much as £34 billion ($42.3 billion) annually.
The United Kingdom is an especially attractive market for Universal due to its strong tourism and transportation infrastructure that links seamlessly to the rest of Europe. Comcast, the parent company of Universal, already has a strong presence in the country with NBCUniversal and Sky both having headquarters there.
Universal says that a new park in the United Kingdom would be mutually beneficial for the company and its residents, emphasizing its potential to bring thousands of jobs and increase tourism throughout the region.
Any construction, Universal says, would be done with careful attention to local wildlife and ecology, with landscaping and dedicated green space a core component of any future plans. Comcast previously vowed to become carbon-neutral by 2035 and it says its theme parks play a big role in those goals.
Local infrastructure would also see significant investment, including the construction of at least one new rail station and dedicated direct roadways that would accommodate the bulk of the park’s traffic, according to documents posted on Universal’s official website for the project.
Locals are asked to participate in a short survey to provide feedback on the proposal, whether to show support, opposition or to offer input on how it could be improved.
“While it will still be some time before we decide whether or not we proceed, we look forward to further engaging with the community on this potential development,” the spokesperson said.
If there is adequate public support, and if Universal determines building a new park would be a smart financial move, construction could take between five and six years. In building a park in historic Bedford, Universal would also become permanent tenants of the region, writing a new chapter in the town’s history.
“If the project moves forward, we will become long-term members of the local community and look forward to future partnership,” an information packet posted online reads.
Members of the community can provide comment by either filling out the survey online, reaching out by phone or email, or requesting and mailing a paper copy.
Responses are due by May 3.
Any and all future updates will be posted online on Universal’s dedicated project website, the company says.
Los Angeles, Ca
Boyle Heights warehouse cleanup begins as crews face 85 million pounds of spoiled food
Cleanup efforts are underway Thursday at the Boyle Heights cold-storage warehouse that burned for eight days after firefighters officially declared the massive blaze knocked down Wednesday evening. Los Angeles Fire Department crews remain at the Lineage warehouse near Union Pacific Avenue and South La Puente Street as they transition into the overhaul phase, searching for […]
Los Angeles, Ca
Hospital needs help identifying man found unconscious in downtown Los Angeles
A hospital needs help identifying a male patient who was found injured and unconscious in downtown Los Angeles.
The man is believed to be in his 30s, according to the Los Angeles General Medical Center.
He was found injured on the ground on Omar Street and has been hospitalized since June 22.
He stands 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 176 pounds. He has brown eyes, dark brown hair and tattoos across his upper body.
He did not have any personal belongings to help staff identify him or contact loved ones. Workers did not disclose the nature of his injuries.
Anyone who recognizes the man is asked to call clinical social worker Cesar Robles at 323-409-6885.
The public can also call the L.A. General Medical Center’s Department of Social Work at 323-409-5253 or, after hours from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., call 323-409-6883. On weekends, call 323-409-5254.
Los Angeles, Ca
Clue may identify SUV in Long Beach hit-and-run that left woman injured
Police are asking the public for help Wednesday in identifying a hit-and-run driver who left a woman badly injured in Long Beach late last month. The May 24 crash occurred around 11 p.m. as the victim was crossing East 2nd Street, according to the Long Beach Police Department. Video provided by police showed a dark-colored […]
-
Washington5 minutes agoNFL announces dates for loaded 2027 draft in Washington, D.C.
-
Wisconsin8 minutes agoCoveted 2027 recruit Baboucarr Ann commits to Wisconsin basketball
-
West Virginia13 minutes agoPhotos show first pieces of West Virginia’s America250 Wheel arriving at state capitol
-
Wyoming20 minutes agoColorado And Oregon Lift Fishing Restrictions, Drought Will Kill Fish Anyway
-
Crypto23 minutes agoBitcoin Slides Nearly 20% in June as $715M in Crypto Long Bets Collapse
-
Finance28 minutes agoAnne Arundel County Launches New Finance and Procurement Platform
-
Fitness35 minutes agoHow Kaye Adams’ varied exercise routine keeps her fit at 63 – and why she swapped HIIT for walking
-
Movie Reviews43 minutes ago8News Reel Talk: ‘Toy Story 5’ movie review