ONE of Bournemouth’s best-known attractions looks set to return.

The Bournemouth Eye balloon’s absence from the Lower Pleasure Gardens in the town has not gone unnoticed and operators missed out on a big windfall during the busy bank holiday weekends.

Owners S&D Leisure, who have run trips from the Lower Pleasure Gardens since May 2002, told the Echo last month the balloon had failed to secure a certificate of airworthiness.

S&D boss Stanley Reeves said the decision not to sign off a certificate was made by the manufacturers and they wanted to sell it to a third world country.

He reassured the town that another balloon of a similar size and shape was on order, costing £300,000, and they had resubmitted their tender application to run the balloon.

And yesterday Bournemouth Borough Council, who put the attraction out to tender, confirmed the company had been chosen to operate the balloon for the next ten years.

Michael Rowland, parks development manager, said: “We can confirm that the contract for the operation of the Bournemouth Balloon in the Lower Gardens has been awarded to S&D Leisure Europe.

“The contract is for 5 + 5 years and we are hoping that the balloon will be fully operational towards the end of June.”

S&D Leisure have previously said they were seeking a sponsor, but yesterday Mr Reeves declined to discuss the matter.