Unfinished 50-foot rollercoaster looms over new apartment building

By Adam Dutton

Residents on a new-build estate are living in the shadow of a huge 50ft-high rollercoaster - but some say they "love it."

Locals in Sandford Lane, Hucknall, Notts., say the unfinished theme park ride has been looming over their homes for the past 18 months.

The unfinished rollercoaster is being tested by Mellors Group, a Nottinghamshire-based company who builds and test rides for worldwide buyers.

Residents on the new-build estate say they regularly see carts whizzing around the track and claim it's a magnet for urban explorers.

Some locals say they love living a stone's throw away from the giant ride while others branded it "an eyesore".

Dad-of-six Jack Welsh, 45, moved into his home 18 months ago and can see the theme park's ground structure from his living room.

Jack, who runs a tattoo shop with wife Kirsty, said their eight-year-old daughter Sapphire was a big fan of the rollercoaster.

He said: "We're actually not bothered by it, it's been a pleasure to watch it grow over the months.

"There was a ride there beforehand but it wasn't on the scale of this one, this one is massive.

"They get built and get sent to wherever buys them, this is like a testing facility.

"They get built and sent on their way, it's great.

"To us we'd sooner this here than a block of apartments with antisocial behavior and drug addicts hanging about.

"It's tall, it's a monster at probably 50ft.

"But luckily our little girl loves rides, because she loves Alton Towers.

"She loves it and she loves to watch it, especially when there's people up there."

Kirsty, 43, added: "It's interesting to watch out your window, you can see them whizzing around on occasion and it's fun.

"It can be more fun to watch than the TV."

The couple think the mega-ride - believed to be the first of its kind - is destined for Dubai.

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Jack added: "They have put a cart on and whizzed them around before and it's great to see.

"I can understand why some people have a problem with it, of course.

"It's big and it can see into your gardens, but we love it.

"The only thing that is a menace is when they leave the straps out overnight.

"The wind catches them and the straps make a crashing sound, which can be annoying.

"There was also an issue over the six weeks with the urban explorers and they were going on it."

But some neighbors on the 12-house road say the rollercoaster "ruins the views" from their homes.

One man, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "I don't think it's suitable to keep it there full-time.

"It's been there for ages and it just makes you feel like you're living next to a funfair.

"When the workmen are repairing it they can see right into your gardens and bedrooms, which is a bit intrusive.

"We shouldn't feel like we're being watched in our homes."

Another said: "It's huge, it's there when we wake up and go to bed.

"We were told it wouldn't be here as long as it has been.

"It's an eyesore and it ruins our views from almost every window from our property."

James Mellors, director at the family-owned firm, admitted the rollercoaster has been up longer than usual but insisted it was temporary.

He said: "It's been there a lot longer than we anticipated. It's temporary, and usually, a ride would not be in position for quite as long as that has been.

"It's the first one in the world, and it's just not quite been going together as well as it should.

"It's frustrating for myself how long that coaster has been there. The rides don't make any money when they're in storage.

"Our aim is to be a good neighbor; we're not there to try and cause a nuisance. It's not a fairground, it's a work depot.

"We want people to appreciate what we do and we appreciate their concerns."