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Wednesday, 9 December 2015

New developments are not 'keeping in sympathy with current architectural buildings of Sidmouth' >>> 'the pull for tourists in Sidmouth is that it is an old-fashioned place'

Tourism has always been important for Sidmouth:
Futures Forum: Sidmouth is "a lot livelier than it once was" with "lots to do despite the rural feel"
Futures Forum: "Tourism rises" ... but questions remain for Sidmouth
Futures Forum: Sidmouth's charming seafront

 There are fears that the buildings of Sidmouth and East Devon are not exactly charming:
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project >>> Pegasus plans in full >>> "Milton Keynes is coming to Sidmouth!"
Futures Forum: The Carbuncle Cup Prize for East Devon's new buildings
Futures Forum: Cranbrook: where's the 'good design'?

 This is the latest thread from the Streetlife blog:

Architecture

Paul  in Sidmouth
 
They have ruined the Westcliff Hotel  in my view with its extension  and together with the proposed drawings of the  retirement homes at the Knowle looking like a block of flats ,  keeping in sympathy with current architectural buildings of sidmouth  is not being achieved.
By the Byes
Certainly the artists impression of the Knowle development looked more "Eastern Bloc" than "Western Sidmouth". Fine if you're looking for somewhere to house the Stasi, not so good if you're looking to attract retiree's to our most beautiful town.
Pepe P
Isn't great that a hotel is expanding and bringing more tourism to sidmouth it can only be a gain for the local community!
George H
I don't like the look of the block at the Harbour, reminded me of a holiday camp. But we had visitors down who stayed there and they said the rooms were lovely.
I think what they are doing is briiliant, hopefully the new modern look will entice a younger crowd to visit Sidmouth.
Rozzy G
Certainly his other hotels like Christchurch harbour hotel attract a lot of custom with weddings etc & a smart restaurant. I will be interested in the end result.
I think the Pegasus development will look really out of place and does nothing to harmonise the area of the Knowle, no doubt at at a price tagged when developed too.
Truly Scrumptious
I expect Sidmouth will gradually go the way of TORQUAY and Exmouth and lose its individuality and its tourist appeal by building modern buildings which are square and unappealing to people who chose to live here for the charm and beauty it currently provides.
Gordonius Maximus
Those of you who were born in Sidmouth and were around in the 60's will remember similar upset voices and comments about "The Witheby Flats" in Cotmaton Road. They were square and built with black coloured bricks.
Pepe P
Unfortunately we all have to move with the times if we like it or not
By the Byes
Pepe P, I'm sure you'd agree that it's in everyones interests, both commercial and residential, to keep Sidmouth looking beautiful.
Surely we are all best served by making this an attractive place?
Pepe P
By the Byes,  I am sure you will agree moving with the times does not necessarily have to mean something will not look beautiful!
Truly Scrumptious
£????????? Are spent each year to keep our wonderful heritage from disappearing. We probably get £????????? of pounds in tourism both from the natives and tourists from abroad, to see and experience life from the past. If people want modern futuristic architecture, then go elsewhere!
Pepe P
Truly Scrumptious what's wrong with old and new together?
George H
People also want bright modern hotels. Not everyone wants to stay in somewhere as formal as the Victoria or Belmont. I think the majority of Sidmouth hotels cater for the 'older' person, so not everyone's cup of tea.
Entrepreneurs are popping up in Sidmouth like Jurrasic paddle boards and they are enticing the younger crowd, so these people need somewhere to stay, that isn't geared towards the 70's plus!
Truly Scrumptious
I am not retired yet. Young adults would come to somewhere like Sidmouth for a romantic weekend. The type of people who would be attracted to Sidmouth wouldn't want concrete, steel and glass but elegance, refinement. In the main, old and modern do not harmonise together. Most modern buildings are built on economies of scale and time hence the blocks that were built in the 1960s/70s. They tend not to last and don't gain charm with age. Bright, modern hotels are for areas of coastlines that haven't been developed yet, like those abroad, where people just go for sun, sea and whatever else comes along so they don't mind sleeping in a characterless room or eating in what resembles a school canteen. Let's face it, Pp and George H - we will never agree!
Pepe P
Truly Scrumptious can I ask have you actually been inside the Harbour Hotel it looks beautiful now.
Gordonius Maximus
My wife and I celebrate our Ruby Wedding in a couple of weeks and we had our Reception at the Westcliffe. We are going back there to spend our Anniversary night and have lunch with the family................looking forwards to it. I was impressed with the way our booking was handled and with the refurbishments I saw yes things have changed and so have the times. I served my Apprenticeship in a Sidmouth Hotel and I for one am pleased that times have changed.
Paul
No the Westcliff Hotel is not beautiful anymore. I remember when it was privately owned by the family of Malloch Brown . It had charm and a grace, which has since being spoilt.  Before the recent extension Harbour Hotels built apartments to the side and your only view is the car park. pack em rack em and stack em is the modern way. People go to somewhere different because its different , the Harbour hotel is now just a me to hotel becoming the same as other chains. If you want something different you preserve it otherwise it will be gone for ever including the personal service i experienced many times under malloch brown.
Gordonius Maximus
Paul.............. Malcolm Malloch-Brown was the son-in-law of Mr and Mrs Harding who had owned the Westcliff for many years and he learned the Hotel Trade through them, he was also an ex Army Officer so his social skills were well honed when he came to the Westcliff. Malcolm also went to Exeter College to learn his kitchen skills so as he could talk to his chefs on an equal level and they would have a mutual respect for his knowledge. I had the pleasure of working with Malcolm during the summers or 75 and 76 during my summer breaks from Exeter College and after Mr and Mrs Harding retired Lesley and Malcolm took on the hotel and made it into what it became. They were also lucky that during that time they had a great staff behind them.
Pining Lass
I agree that the pull for tourists in Sidmouth is that it is an old-fashioned place.

We have an extensive network of visitors of all ages, many of whom are friends of relatives and so have no previous ties with Sidmouth. What keeps them coming back is the range of shops, the recreation areas, the walks, and of course the traditional holiday activities like rockpooling.

Even with the lack of activities for children in wet weather most of the under 13 year olds would rather come to Sidmouth than holiday in other places in Britain when given the choice. They prefer it to Torquay, Blackpool, holiday camps, Centre Parcs because they can wander round safely by themselves ( appropriate to their ages of course). They also like the different buildings with interesting windows, balconies and thatched roofs.

Obviously this is a relatively self selecting group but it does prove Sidmouth is not only attractive to the ancient :-)



Streetlife | Architecture
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1 comment:

MarkDonald said...

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Turf Grass

10 December 2015 at 07:07

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