Southport '08 & Beyond

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Southport '08 & Beyond

Postby Gary » 08 Jan 2008, 19:49

The word oxymoron refers to a combination of contradictory or incongruous words..

..you know the sort of thing..cruel kindness..jumbo shrimp...business tourism...

Well, not too sure about the last example but its these two words I would use if I had to describe the path Southport appears to have chosen for its future.

"Imagine a destination so in tune with your conference needs that your expectations, objectives and targets are not only met but are exceeded."

Reference: http://www.visitsouthport.com/conferences/why-southport

My family and I visit Southport regularly - We were there Saturday gone - and like Blackpool, the town is most definately on the edge of change.

Hey, all you photographers out there should record for prosperity now before it's too late!

So what about Southport's tourism future then?

The negative in me believes the Lakeside Miniature Railway may not last much longer..I hope it does..It deserves to..Someone please prove me wrong. I love this attraction.

I heard a rumour it has changed hands recently?? Anyone confirm this??

The speculator in me believes that Southport '08 and beyond is going to focus on its golf courses and bird watching (Not my cup of tea but can't argue against the fact that these pursuits tick the "world class" boxes for the area.)

..Oh and of course it will have its conference facilities, cafes and hotels...

"Work has already begun on the town's multi-million pound new hotel and business complex. which will provide a four-star hotel, 10,000 sqft of exhibition space, restaurants, bars and a casino."

Reference: http://www.visitsouthport.com/conferences/why-southport

The positive in me believes Southport will always be a nice place to visit.

I have always loved Southport and don't want to start disliking it now.

Family and I (again this year) joined the throng of walkers blowing away the cobwebs with a New Years Day walk along the pier...and it was nice.

Couldn't help looking over towards Pleasureland though and wondering what splash of urban tourism is going to find its way there in years to come.

Dear Messrs designer people who dictate how we will enjoy ourselves at the seaside and who turn their noses up at the very idea of amusement park heritage because it doesn't bring in the necessary money,

Please..no expensively designed and commissioned Visitor Centres with murals on the walls showing pictures of wind turbines or pictures of people playing golf or pictures of birds in their natural habitat complete with hands on interactive quizzes and the like.

Yours faithfully

Gary



PS Besides, I personally was very happy with the Great Big Self Contained interactive visitor centre we had a couple of years back..

..It was called Southport.
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Postby EAS » 10 Jan 2008, 20:53

Ah but what they want is a 'classic resort'!


(When I look at what was developed next to Pleasureland I think that's a faint hope...)

Still, apparently a classic resort doesn't have a historic amusement park.


The answer to everything now that needs 'regeneration' is to make the place a 'conference venue'. Then there are 'mixed use developments' with a 'vibrant mix' of 'retail', with 'attractive modern flats' 'bar cafes' 'public squares', the odd supermarket, a Vue Cinema, and a token 'historic quarter' if you are lucky.

There must come an end to how many conferences there are and how many venues are required.

Clone towns - the answer to every planner's dreams.
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Postby SNPL » 11 Jan 2008, 11:06

Gary wrote:The negative in me believes the Lakeside Miniature Railway may not last much longer..I hope it does..It deserves to..Someone please prove me wrong. I love this attraction.

I heard a rumour it has changed hands recently?? Anyone confirm this??


I had a conversation with the owners a few months back, re' southports pleasureland and its part it was playing in revitalising the resort.

strangely the closure of the original pleasureland had no adverse effect on business of the lakeside railway. they actually noted a slight increase in trade, so pleasureland or no pleasureland, i doubt it would have an effect short term. the lease is renewed on an annual basis, so while theres a demand, there will be a railway.

cant confirm or deny any change in ownership .. sorry.
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Postby Gary » 12 Jan 2008, 10:05

First up, encouraging news about the Lakeside Railway Rick, thanks for that.

Conferences...

You know what?...I don't think the planners have given this much thought.

The Dragons' Den idea inside me thinks the future equates to attending conferences from the comfort of your armchair via a computer screen anyway.

Forget the traffic and expense of hotels - Why bother?

Who cares if Southport looks nice?

Lets Pay per view some guy standing in front of a Pi Chart and fall asleep in the workplace or from the comfort of our own homes.

Just think of the joy it will bring to those money persons in charge of company expenses.

The idea is carbon footprint friendly too.

It's one thing building these icons to business tourism but I do seriously wonder how these conference halls of today will adapt for the uncertain tomorrow and how long they will really last.

Am I pessimistic and naive?

..or just plain pragmatic?

Who knows?

Besides, I'm off to play some virtual golf and shoot some virtual birds on my er..daughter's Nintendo Wii

Gary
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Postby mrjimlowe » 11 Nov 2008, 02:47

Shopping is the only liesure activity increasingly being catered for nowadays in the north West. We have the new Arndale centre in Manchester, Cheshire Oaks near Chester and the recently opened Liverpool One.
Why the hell are they building more and more shops in the currennt financial situation.

Local councils seem to prefer apartments to be built on seafronts as it rakes in plenty of high band council tax. Some of these apartments are not even occupied all year round. Another problem is, the occupants of these apartment will usually want a quiet seafront with no noisy funfairs or daytrippers.
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Postby Phil » 16 Dec 2008, 20:40

I agree with Gary.
We've just returned from a break at Southport and seen some very unwelcome changes. The new hotel at the side of the pier is hardly sypathetic to a cosy and welcoming family promenade. Then there's Vincent's on Lord Street. How on earth did they allow that to be built among such Victorian finery. Strangely it was busy when we looked in - young business types.
The most disturbing was the supplement in the Southport Champion "Pride in Southport". Among aims declared in this very bold publication are to 'get awayfrom the traditional bed and breakfast image of Southport', to 'remove the rock and ice cream shops etc. from the Scarisbrick area and create luxury flats' and 'redevelop the Pleasureland site' with permanent all weather international attractions' (foreign themed cafes and wine bars presumably).
When will these folk realise that what makes a seasidde town different is that for most of the country it is a holiday desination. As such, in additions to the sea, it is expected to have the things we inlanders don't have at home, e.g. a fairground, pier, amusements, Victorian shelters, parks, crazy golf, hotels, B and Bs, seafront chip shops etc. etc. Southport used to provide these in gentle and appealing portions, rather than the overpowering brashness of Blackpool.
Come on chaps, anywhere pretty and inland can be a conference venue, but he English seasinde is a most precious assset appreciated by millions. More people will be holidaying in the UK for the forseeable future - don't miss this chance to provide for them.
Yours,
Phil Greaves
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Postby EAS » 27 Dec 2008, 14:07

Then there's Vincent's on Lord Street.


Is that the one which replaced the Grade II Listed cinema? A glass fronted thing?

http://www.thevincenthotel.com/hotel.html

They got permission on the grounds the (very early) cinema frontage was retained, althougfh the council thought it OK to demolish the rest. Whoops it fell down during the demolition of the rest. No-one made them re-erect it...

I came to the conclusion when I was involved in the Save Cyclone campaign that the council is a useless bunch of half-wits and rather too many residents the same.

So they think what it happening is 'progress'. If indeed they care much at all.
Last edited by EAS on 27 Dec 2008, 14:47, edited 1 time in total.
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Postby EAS » 27 Dec 2008, 14:13

A bit more delving seems to suggest that there wasn't any intention of retaining the frontage, although that seems to be at odds with much that I recall being reported at the time. I think that the CTA tried to have it retained.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpoo ... -14219397/

I thought it a very handsome frontage, and although I haven't seen the new hotel I did see the designs before it was built and it was never going to enhance Lord Street.

http://forums.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/ ... p?p=667721

The same with the new hotel on the sea front - is it now built? I haven't gone back since the demolition of Cyclone. That was rapid. That looked grim too in the plans, although possibly suited to the new Southport with Ocean Plaza etc.

http://visiternewsdesk.merseyblogs.co.uk/2007/03/

Conferences - all that the terminally daft can think of when it comes to 'regeneration'. Short sighted and short termism reigns.

PS I note that the cinema still seem sto be listed - clearly no-one has bothered to inform the powers that be that it's gone.

One of the earliest surviving purpose-built cinemas.


Picture:

http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/detai ... &id=479070

More:

http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/sho ... hp?t=26388

Youtube:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pXx2QMRvB ... re=related
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Postby EAS » 27 Dec 2008, 14:50

I post this again. Try not to smirk while watching the 'launch movie'. Or weep. 'The perfect addition to the classic resort' !!

Unbelievable. Anyone recognise the 'civic worthy' mouthing that tripe?

http://www.thevincenthotel.com/hotel.html

Credit crunch - it may yet have a silver lining.
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Postby Phil » 28 Dec 2008, 18:56

Thanks for the background to Vincents - and the opening video. How absolutley dreadful - who are these councillors? Wasn't there a fight by the Civic Society of English Heritage?
As has been said, how can anything so crass and tastless be aloowed in what must surely be a Conservation Area. Is it the town council planners, or were they overruled by Liverpool (who are allowing some pretty vile constructions on their own frontages)?
When will people realise that elegance and class are timeless, while ugly junk will look dated in a very short time. They're not doing Southport any favours are they?
Sorry but I cannot bear to look at the desruction of the Cylone pictures.
Phil
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Postby Phil » 29 Dec 2008, 14:13

Me again:
Another worry is the former Cheshire Lines station buildings on Lord Street (retained by Morrisons?). Signs suggest the site could be redeveloped, though completion was for January 08. Maybe there is a silver lining to the recession.
I also read that the lovely art deco fire station is to be demolished and replaceed with a smaller "more economic" building under the Govt.s PFI scheme.
Not much safe in the dear old place is there?
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Postby Gary » 05 Jan 2009, 18:26

Phil wrote:Me again:
Another worry is the former Cheshire Lines station buildings on Lord Street (retained by Morrisons?). Signs suggest the site could be redeveloped, though completion was for January 08. Maybe there is a silver lining to the recession.
I also read that the lovely art deco fire station is to be demolished and replaceed with a smaller "more economic" building under the Govt.s PFI scheme.
Not much safe in the dear old place is there?


The railway station was also The Ribble Bus Station ..Fantastic building.

Agreed Phil..Not much safe at all..

http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/s/southport_lord_street/index.shtml
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Postby mrjimlowe » 10 Jan 2009, 18:03

Apparently. the railway used to follow the route of the coastal Road.

The other existing train station at Chapel Street was under threat of closure in the 1960's but local councils provided subsidies and now it is one of the busiest lines on Merseyrail.

Liverpool exchange station was closed to all routes except the Southport service in the early 1960's, then Exchange closed in 1978 when the Northern Line went underground to connect with Liverpool Moorfields and Central stations where passengers could go directly to the Merseyrial Wirral line and Lime Street mainline station. There was talk of re-opning the Southport to Preston line which would mean you could go from Southport to Blackpool on a day out.
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