what do you think of the state of the seafront at the moment?

By vickifitz at 09:59 on 09/06/10

Re-post

I have this week written in teh Mercury regarding the lack of care for pedestrians crossing to the beach. It is dangerous as there are no proper crossings to the Beach Road and where there are signs for pedestrians, they don't relats to actual pedestrian routes.
One I followed took me to the Information Centre ONLY.

Surely the Council could organise a series of moveable signs and temporary pedestrian crossings for peopole to use. Even a lollypop person would help to stop traffic to let people cross.

There were lots of people on the front last weekend and they were having all sorts of problems crossing the road. Someone may get knocked down if it goes on as it is.

By Nigels_art at 20:16 on 10/06/10
Report
I agree totally and think the council should have started the seafront work to the beach lawns earlier. It is summer season now and the poor tourists are visiting a building site! I hope it gets finished soon!
On a more positive note the new paving on the prom looks nice as does the new sea wal.

By vickifitz at 20:32 on 10/06/10
Report
I agree about the paving on the front it does look good.

As it happens I am involved in the 'Wave' cafe rebuild and I was carrying out a survey of the building and was disgusted to find that people had allowed dogs to mess on the paving. Even on paving that had not been completed yet.

There was even dogs mess on the base stands of the steel panels in front of the 'Wave' building.

Urgh !!!

Some aspects of the public just disgust me ! There seems no pride in our environment these days. Still it's like manners as well that also have gone by the board buts thats another topic completely.

By Nigels_art at 08:55 on 11/06/10
Report
That is disgusting. People should know better esecially when young children can get near to it ! Not pleasant at all. You'd think people would want to keep a nice new seafront looking nice but it just shows people don't care anymore! Hope the rebuild goes well. Make sure you tell the cafe to claim their free business listing on here!

By vickifitz at 12:18 on 11/06/10
Report
I'll do that ref the listing.

I am hopeful that the rebuilt Cafe will look good. I promiise I'll do my best.
I designed the converted hospital and associated buildings also the conversion of Wyverne School in Locking Road which were both well received and am a Westonian so hope I have the best intentions for Weston in the little way I am involved.

By Nigels_art at 13:30 on 11/06/10
Report
Yes indeed the sea front is a mess, I have elected NOT to vist Weston again this year!! But what about Birnbeck Pier!! It's a bloody mess can't the owners do something..... get lottery funding perhaps, it does have historc merit!

By StephenHarper at 07:00 on 13/06/10
Report
The Birnbeck is a dreaful loss as it is. it's history includes use as a secret war installation and the theatre had a superb interior. It's condition prohibits steam trips and it used to be a great place of entertainment and even just for a stoll.

I feel the owners are only interested in it falling down ! They want some modern glass structure on it I believe.

History shows that buildings of such note can be saved.
The Clevedon pier tho' smaller is an example..
However the Pier Hotel in Clevedon is also suffering from lack of interest or perhaps manipulation by the owners. It needs some guts somewhere to make these things happen .

By Nigels_art at 12:07 on 13/06/10
Report
Birnbeck Pier was bought back in 2006 by Urban Splash with the intention of building a hotel/flats etc on it along with community facilities such as shops, cafes etc. However, But work on the project has not even started apparently because of the recession. Then the managing director for the region who was in charge of the project suddenly left. Urban Splash then said it was open to offers. I believe it is being sold but no one knows if the sale has gone through yet. It will probably end up falling into the sea! Or just be left for another decade with no progress like the Tropicana, which is another topic itself- what a state!!!!

By vickifitz at 15:33 on 13/06/10
Report
It's all dreadful.

I can't understand Weston at all.

There is just no will to do anything to push these people to act.

Why a hotel and flats on the pier anyway? The Knightstone development did not pay any homage to the victorian buildings on the island. I guess Birnbeck would go the same way.

Dreadful !

By Nigels_art at 10:20 on 14/06/10
Report
Yes the seafront is a mess at this moment in time and must be very inconvenient for locals and visitors alike, but the work that has been completed looks really good, modern shapes for the seats and paving that will look even better when it's finished. Good to see money from central government being used wisely.

With the pier in full swing next year and these improvements finished the future looks bright for our town.

By Avenue Dry Cleaners & Laundrette at 10:36 on 19/06/10
Report
just burn weston down, i hate it now, my whole life has been messed up by this place BOMB IT!

By Caution2010 at 11:05 on 19/06/10
Report
to Caution2010

You are a caution aren't you !

A bit dramatic there everywhere has SOME virtue even Weston.

By Nigels_art at 21:32 on 19/06/10
Report
The state of weston sea front i can put up with,after all it will be worth it in the end...but what i do think is daft is the leak in marine lake!!! what a time to now try and fix it..it looks worse then the front,but to empty it with all this lovely weather??from my window facing the lake i watch famlies hit the beach and the childrens left to wade in the muddy patches!! thats the state in weston!! Kim Taviner

By rubykat at 16:04 on 24/06/10
Report
I think the seafront improvements in Weston are brilliant. The walls and paving are a huge visual improvement on the old grey tarmac and the soft honey colouring matches the buildings along the front. Also the sea defence aspect was important for the future.

A small problem is the absorbency of reconstituted paving slabs. These get dirty and stained very quickly, and it remains to be seen if they will weather down OK. Still, the whole job is a massive improvement on what was there and a great complement for a town that I am very fond of.

Curly.

By Curly333 at 12:23 on 24/07/10
Report
The seafront work started about 3 years ago streathening the base of the existing seawall, then the prominade and now pier square, that will be 3 summer seasons that have been effected. Being a hotel owner in Weston this has seriously effected tourism and trade. On a positive note all the work should be completed by the end of this year 2010. With the newly built Grand Pier and a new look seafront we will have a town to be proud of, that will attract the tourists back and new business will want to move to Weston and the Tropicana will be rebuilt into a lovelly Lido!..... Sorry I got a bit carried away there but who knows?

Weston is still and will be a great place to visit. All the best JC

By miltonhilton at 16:38 on 29/07/10
Report
The newly completed water park is just fantastic and entry is free. Something for free in this day and age is rare. My grand children just loved it. Thank you to all those involved in this. I love Weston JC

By miltonhilton at 16:43 on 29/07/10
Report
i love weston, and stay there every year. when my children have left home i'm hoping to move there. two concerns tho, will they be replacing the grass and fountain and why have they taken all the seats away where there is shade while resting or waiting for a coach?

By karenwalkey at 20:53 on 06/08/10
Report