Paultons Park, the Hampshire theme park, has been refused permission to keep two roller coasters that it opened without planning consent.

As previously reported in Leisure Opportunities, the park was forced to retroactively apply for permission for its existing Edge and Cobra rides, which it opened without the proper planning permission.

The offending rides are located on an area of land that has been used for less than 10 years as an amusement park and therefore require separate application to the four other rides – located on an approved area of land – which were built at around the same time.

The New Forest National Park Authority rejected the application for the existing rides, but approved plans for a new 9,000sq ft indoor play area. It also green lighted Paultons’ application to regularise the attraction’s land as an amusement park in planning terms.

While the Edge and Cobra rides will remain open for the October half term break, it is not known whether Paultons will have to dismantle the multi-million pound coasters. The park is “currently reviewing its options as to the next course of action”.