Work to replace fencing around the Frontierland site is set to begin and plans to move a popular set of paintings have been announced.
Lancaster City Council, owners of the former fairground site, said work to replace the wooden hoardings - including some damaged in recent high winds - will begin on Tuesday, January 9.
All of the artwork created by local artists currently fixed to the panels will be carefully removed and stored safely on site while the work takes place, said the council.
They also said that around eight of the paintings - those with a 'white blob' put on them - will be collected to go on display at the Queens Market on Victoria Street in the town centre.
The Queens Market is the former Crystal T's/Concorde Squash Club/Palladium Cinema (pictured below). The 19th century building is being developed and restored by local man Nick Smith, who has agreed for some of the paintings to be displayed inside.
The remaining artwork will be refixed to the new hoardings at Frontierland.
Any artists who would like their pieces to be returned should email frontierland@lancaster.gov.uk so this can be arranged.
"In the event that any of the artworks cannot be refixed to the panels, for example if they are too weather-damaged and it would not be safe for them to be reattached, we’ll keep them safe and offer the opportunity for them to be collected," said a Lancaster City Council spokesperson.
Last summer, the council announced plans to replace the hoardings as they were in a poor state and due to concerns they could blow down in stormy weather.
Some of the panels did indeed blow down during the recent high winds.
Our photos taken on Sunday, January 7 show damaged hoardings at the site.
Last summer, the council also reassured residents they would not dispose of the much-loved set of community paintings when the fencing is replaced around the land - amidst fears they would be thrown in a skip.
Dozens of paintings have been created by members of the public around the derelict former Wild West theme park on Morecambe prom.
Bob Pickersgill, local artist and musician, created the first painting on the blue hoardings outside the former fairground in 2020 to raise awareness of the state of the land.
Afterwards, other artists and photographers joined in to create a colourful mural full of images of people, landmarks and events.
Mr Pickersgill has campaigned to help preserve the artwork and has been in touch with Mr Smith and the council about the future of the paintings.
Three of his own paintings have already been relocated - his artwork of the Coronation Scot train to Carnforth Railway Station, his artwork on the Sunderland Bombers and The Windermere Children has gone to the Holocaust Museum in Windermere, and his portrait of well-known Morecambe actress Dame Thora Hird (below) went to Morecambe Heritage Centre in the Arndale shopping centre.
Lancaster City Council, who bought the land from Morrisons in 2021, recently completed a public consultation into how it should be developed in future.
Most of the site has been disused since Frontierland closed in 2000 and the land is regarded as one of the town's biggest eyesores.
Read more: Blueprint for future of Frontierland revealed as public consultation gets under way - Beyond Radio
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