Tayto Park gets green light for new roller coaster

Tayto Park has been given the green light for a new €15.5 million 'Coaster 2021' rollercoaster coaster.

After more than two years of planning applications, the new ride was given the go ahead by Bord Pleanala.

The way is now cleared for the construction of the 31 metre high and 748 metre long Suspended Thrill Roller Coaster and a 24.2 metre high 238 metre long Family Boomerang (FB) ride.

A previous planning application for a rollercoaster was refused planning permission by the planning board in July in 2019 as there had been objections by neighbours citing the noise impact of screaming.

A raft of noise-reducing measures including putting parts of the ride in underground tunnels and inside a pipes are included in the current plans.

An Bord Pleanála turned down a previous planning application for a new steel roller coaster in 2019, due mainly to noise impacts from rollercoaster passengers’ screams on nearby residents.

The new plan contains 14 separate noise reduction measures drawn up by Dutch roller-coaster maker, Vekoma which has made roller-coasters across the world such as Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain for Disney.

The noise reduction measures include three noise retention tunnels to mitigate patrons’ screams on the rollercoaster as well as reducing noise from the tracks.

The designers reoriented the tracks to direct noise back into the park and away from housing in the area and some of the other noise-reducing design features include three tunnels; underground sections; extensive planting of trees, shrubbery and foliage and a 6m high and 100m long sound barrier.