WWPDFUK team very impressed with Puy du Fou meeting
On Tuesday 13th May, the ‘We Want Puy du Fou UK’ support group held their preliminary meeting with the team bringing the new immersive historical theme park to Oxfordshire to challenge the latest updates and details of the transport strategy, sustainability and noise mitigations.
Puy du Fou are looking to invest £600 million into Oxfordshire with the creation of a new park close to Bicester with 11 shows.
The core team met with Olivier Strebelle, CEO of Puy du Fou, David Nouaille, Director of International Development, Puy du Fou and Nick Keable, Chairman, Real Estate Communications to discuss the organisations plans for the proposed site.
The group asked about the transport policy aiming to achieve 50% of visitors arriving using public transport. Puy du Fou shared details of their strategy enabled through easy access by coach and via shuttle buses from the two local train stations. The approach utilises best practice of other top attractions in similar locations where the target is being achieved.
Puy du Fou also revealed they will create a new , 5 metre wide foot and cycle path bordering the park to link up with existing off road cycle routes providing a new safe route for the community from Bicester to the north of the site.
They also asked Puy du Fou about the increase in biodiversity expected with the team providing insight into the 50 acres of woodland and 40 acres of wildflower meadow to be planted, significantly improving the site for the long term.
WWPDFUK went on to ask how noise will be mitigated for local residents. Puy du Fou shared how this is managed at their existing parks and will be implemented in Bicester. The creation of large bunds, tree planting, directional speakers and buildings means noise pollution to those living nearby will be negligible. The company shared why this is important, not just for locals, but also to avoid distress to animals in their park to avoid the sound from one show ‘leaking’’ into another.
The group were particularly impressed with the sustainablity statistics provided by Puy du Fou. In every one of the 16 categories ranging from flood risk, landscape, biodiversity, connectivity and renewable electricity Puy du Fou will be not only improving on the current measures of all of these elements, but will be meeting and sometimes exceeding the ambitions of the Cherwell local plan for 2042.
We want Puy du Fou UK are grateful to Puy du Fou for making themselves available and for their openness and transparency, also to their offer of being available in the future should other questions occur.