The future of Weston-super-Mare’s Tropicana takes another twist this month when the private developer Henry Boot puts on display its latest plans for the redevelopment of the site.
I was a Councillor when North Somerset Council selected Henry Boot as the preferred developer for the Tropicana back in the summe of 2005. At that time the council consulted the public on various options for the future of the site. Only 11% supported Henry Boot’s scheme. 60% backed a scheme to build a covered swimming pool (and nothing else), funded by the taxpayer with possibly some other development elsewhere to help pay for it.
I voted for the covered swimming pool, backed by the public, and against Henry Boot. Unfortunately, the majority of councillors opted for what they believed to be the easy – and free – option with Henry Boot.
Two years later and we are still waiting for a planning application for the Boot scheme. Earlier this year they were given a contract extension by the now Conservative-run council to allow for more time. We are told a planning application will be submitted in the New Year 2008.
So Henry Boot are consulting the public now, before their formal planning application is in. I welcome this in one sense, clearly it is too late to consult people once the plans are in – then it is take it or leave it. My real concern now is are they really consulting with an open mind?
Of course not. The details of the scheme have already been agreed as part of the contract signed with the council. There is no evidence that councillors have seen sense and will kick Henry Boot into touch. There is no evidence that any change of direction on the proposals has been made.
So we will still see car parking on the sea front, a massive structure built to accommodate a hotel, cinema and other money-making facilities. Oh, and as an aside, there will be a swimming pool. Time and again the local residents have made their views clear: no hotel, no massive car park, no cinema – just a pool.
Why will the council not listen?
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