Mass suicide pact..

[DavidofMersea]

Went to Brightlingsea harbour AGM and discussion about the possible future vision for the harbour. Everyone in the room (except me) was against everything being put forward.

I think at that type of meeting only those that want to object turn up. We have something similar in Mersea with objectors to the power station having meetings and saying "everybody is against these proposals", whereas it was probably only everybody at the meeting

 

[FullCircle]

I think at that type of meeting only those that want to object turn up. We have something similar in Mersea with objectors to the power station having meetings and saying "everybody is against these proposals", whereas it was probably only everybody at the meeting

Erudite comment...

 

[tidclacy]

Its the old " 99% of the people at the meeting voted against" but that was only a small percentage of those eligible to vote. The Trotskys used that to undermine the Labour Party by having a vote late at night after everybody else had got fed up and gone home.

 

[Supine Being]

Unfortunately I can't imagine any quick fix to Brightlingsea's problems. It's a terminus town, not on the way to anywhere else. If you're in Brightlingsea then you either intended to be, or you're lost. The wharf has gone taking the jobs with it. The housing stock in the town isn't particularly attractive to commuters and, anyway, there's no station in Brightlingsea. The waterfront has been blighted by a failed development and is confused and covered with commercially useless beach huts. And there's no sound commercial footing to development anyway. There are no good restaurants as the local economy can't sustain them all year round, so fewer reasons for summer visitors to drop by.

I can't see how the leisure boating industry will change that significantly. It can be an element to recovery, sure, but only a small one. Burnham is also a terminus town, but has a bigger leisure boating industry and a train station... and commerce in town is still dying on its arse. It's just not that easy.

 

[chinita]

Aye.....we're doomed....DOOOOOOMED Ah tell ye!

 

[DavidofMersea]

Unfortunately I can't imagine any quick fix to Brightlingsea's problems. It's a terminus town, not on the way to anywhere else. If you're in Brightlingsea then you either intended to be, or you're lost. The wharf has gone taking the jobs with it. The housing stock in the town isn't particularly attractive to commuters and, anyway, there's no station in Brightlingsea. The waterfront has been blighted by a failed development and is confused and covered with commercially useless beach huts. And there's no sound commercial footing to development anyway. There are no good restaurants as the local economy can't sustain them all year round, so fewer reasons for summer visitors to drop by.

I can't see how the leisure boating industry will change that significantly. It can be an element to recovery, sure, but only a small one. Burnham is also a terminus town, but has a bigger leisure boating industry and a train station... and commerce in town is still dying on its arse. It's just not that easy.

West Mersea is much the same sort of terminus town, but it is not dying. We don't have a failed development/wharf, but we do have a nuclear power station churning out nuclear waste if you believe the local protesters BANNG

 

[Otter]

Brightlingsea could be a thriving tourist destination but I suspect a number of the locals don't want it to be. I've lived in two thriving tourist destinations ans not loved either so I understand their reluctance. But sadly without a strong local will to do what's necessary - and that includes more than an extension to a flipping hammerhead - then there will be very few local jobs for the locals.

 

[chinita]

I agree; I have lived in FOUR tourist towns and they were all unbearable (apart from the odd winter day). I would happily live in Brightlingsea if there was a guarantee of no tourists.

No real comparison with WM. Brightlingsea is a retired shipbuilding town, WM is just retired.

 

[D&T]

There have been some very interesting views from both sides , most of which are valid. However, as someone has already said, many towns are in decline, due to a number of reasons, included the out of town shopping centres and major chains opening up, for example the Tesco , Sainsbury Mini Marts. I remember in my local town there was outrage at the proposal of a Tesco Express opening, but of course it got approval from the Council. Yet after it opened the many people who had objected started shopped there, thereafter a couple of local independent businesses closed. Of course the major chains offer a better choice, but do we really need it? It is OUR fault the independent shops close. Its OUR fault we drink in the chain pubs and restaurants. Its called freedom of choice and we cant complain when towns go into decline, because the residents cause it. For the record, I try very hard to support independent businesses where possible( but sometimes its hard, because they have gone?

 

[tillergirl]

West Mersea is much the same sort of terminus town, but it is not dying. We don't have a failed development/wharf, but we do have a nuclear power station churning out nuclear waste if you believe the local protesters BANNG

Couple of differences to Brightlingsea: it is an thriving tourist destination, has more attractive housing stock and does attract some commuters.

 

[chinita]

Its OUR fault we drink in the chain pubs and restaurants. Its called freedom of choice and we cant complain when towns go into decline, because the residents cause it. For the record, I try very hard to support independent businesses where possible( but sometimes its hard, because they have gone?

Not always the case; my village has this (after the store and PO closed):

http://www.somershamcommunityshop.co.uk/

....and lovely it is too. Fresh stuff, sourced locally and often much cheaper than supermarket rubbish.

 

[D&T]

Not always the case; my village has this (after the store and PO closed):

http://www.somershamcommunityshop.co.uk/

....and lovely it is too. Fresh stuff, sourced locally and often much cheaper than supermarket rubbish.

Very refreshing to see , unfortunately not the norm , community spirit seems to have been greatly reduced

How can a local shop compete with a Tesco Express that has a $1 billion buying power. Not even my local council supports local businesses (Southend)

 

[Elemental]

... many towns are in decline, due to a number of reasons, included the out of town shopping centres and major chains opening up, for example the Tesco , Sainsbury Mini Marts

But surely the arrival of Tesco et al doesn't necessarily have to signal the end of the town. It may indicate the beginning of a period of change - IMHO not necessarily for the worse. Towns have to evolve, change and remain relevant to citizens. I live in Cambridge and although it's a bigger town, the centre is suffering because it's not able to change. Sometimes it feels like the citizens here have to serve the town. It should be the other way round.

For the record, I try very hard to support independent businesses where possible( but sometimes its hard, because they have gone?

At the risk of sounding controversial, I don't. I happily shop in Tesco for my groceries. I'll go to a specialist shop if it offers something better or different, but the OOT supermarket will always be more convenient. Better to consign the old way of doing things to the era in which it was relevant. Until towns and town dwellers get the idea, some places will continue to suffer.

 

[D&T]

But surely the arrival of Tesco et al doesn't necessarily have to signal the end of the town. It may indicate the beginning of a period of change - IMHO not necessarily for the worse. Towns have to evolve, change and remain relevant to citizens. I live in Cambridge and although it's a bigger town, the centre is suffering because it's not able to change. Sometimes it feels like the citizens here have to serve the town. It should be the other way round.

I expect most people use supermarkets and have done for the last 40 years. But the arrival of the smaller convenient stores like Tesco Express, in my opinion does signal the end of traditional shops, purely judging by the number that close. With the trend increasing a few major companies will control virtually everything we buy and that cant be good for the consumer, we will be puppies in their hands ( look what happens when one giant alters prices, all the others follow )

 

[Toutvabien]

I keep my boat at Brightlingsea and on balance quite like the way it is, but I would not object to it being refreshed in places and a few decent pubs or restaurants near the waterfront would certainly encourage me to open my wallet more often in the town than I currently do, rather than sailing round to West Mersea seafood joints. The harbour plans look as if they are designed to increase the cash flow of the harbour and I guess every organisation wants it senior managers to "improve" the business and BHC are no different in that. The inexpensive moorings suit many people, like me, who do not want to pay for water and electricity to be provided for my boat when nobody is on it, it is a legitimate sector of the market and when Brightlingsea is busy on a summer weekend it is a delight. Brightlingsea still has real charm with a proper butchers, bakers, fishmongers etc, but most of the pubs are pretty grim and the few restaurants not really inspiring, so we tend to buy nice fish off of Terry on the Quay, some good bread from the bakers and make our own party on board. When we had boats in Ramsgate and Burnham however we spent much more money ashore.

Whitstable used to be quite similar back in the 1980's and then suddenly was discovered and it's unspoilt charm became it's attraction, a few key businesses transformed the town by brininging in people with a few £££'s to spend. Now though every town seems to have a development plan to enable it to become the next Salcombe, Whitstable, Brighton, Southwold etc etc. (Margate wants to be the next Bilbao). I don't think that it is development plans that change towns it is people and their actions, if they opened a branch of the Company Shed in Brightlingsea would it do good business?

Surely not everywhere has to be developed?

 

[DavidofMersea]

Couple of differences to Brightlingsea: it is an thriving tourist destination, has more attractive housing stock and does attract some commuters.

It is not true to say that Brightlingsea is not a thriving tourist destination, SWMBO and I often go there in the summer and walk along the front to the cafe by the tower, and then sometimes walk along the sea wall towards Arlesford Creek

 

[Poecheng]

Toutvabien

Well said. Agree with every word.
What's more the people in Brightlingsea are pleasant with good service in the shops.

The waterfront itself has ended up all wrong. The Anchor pub (big house next to the yacht club) is no more and are private flats (seemingly largely unoccupied). The Colne Yacht club dominates - great for them but not everyone wants to joint. French's is hardly exciting and the flat development.. well !

The town is set out the wrong way for yotties. The High Street should be rotated through 90 degrees so that it runs from the present High Street all the way down to the waterfront. Then there is a clear - commercial - link between the two. As it is the route is via narrow residential streets.

All that being said, I think it is great. I feel comfortable there. If it doesn't provide for the very top end of yachting, thats fine by me since other places do on the East Coast and there should be places that don't cost £4k to keep a boat for a year.
I used to have a fore and aft when we were not using the boat much (cheaper) and I like the fact that rich and poor and everyone in between are there and seem to get on alright. I certainly don't want to be paying for water and electric etc. on the pontoon; just somewhere to moor the boat.

 

[Toutvabien]

It is not true to say that Brightlingsea is not a thriving tourist destination, SWMBO and I often go there in the summer and walk along the front to the cafe by the tower, and then sometimes walk along the sea wall towards Arlesford Creek

Quite agree,we thrive on it too, my good lady wife is particulalry fond of the walk along the Colne and then up through the woods into town, when the bluebells are out is is a delight, the fact that we usually have it to ourselves is
a bonus.

 

[Cantata]

You're right about Whitstable as an example of the mixed blessings of towns popular with tourists. I have lived nearby all my life and seen the place transformed from a shabby run-down sort of place, all on the strength of one man's determination and genius for publicity in 'London' magazines. It now has sky-high house prices, so local young people cannot get on the housing ladder, traffic jams all weekend, loads of shops selling stuff that locals don't want or need, and loads of restaurants that locals cannot afford to eat in. By contrast, mid-week and out of season, it's pretty dead, as the people who bought all the property and have pushed up the prices mostly actually live 60 miles to the West...
Whether or not that's all a good thing, who am I to say.

 

[Tomahawk]

I totally agree that the way to bring money in is via tourism or attracting new residents, not a few yachties. ....

When I was speaking at the meeting someone interupted me saying that they wanted the place to stay exactly the same is it is. They got a thunderous cheer and agreement from everyone else in the room. Perhaps younwere one of those who cheered?

Which creates a problem for you because you can't have tourists without changes to provide the facilities tourists need in order to visit. Similarly, if new reisidents are to help regenerate the place, they have to be more wealthy than the people who live in the town at present. Again a change from the present situation which is clearly contrary to the sentiment expressed by everyone in the meeting.

You and everyone else who has spoken against me have been dismissive of the harbour plan and indeed any change. But the problems still remains. Because of its location it developed as an engineering and shipbuilding town during the indistrial revolution. Those days have gone so the place has to work out how to survive.

Of course one choice is to become run down and impoverished but that does not offer much to the next generation.

The alternative is to accept that change can be good and given that the place exists because of the harbour, it would seem the harbour is a good starting point. But again that means moving away from the outright rejection of any change which was expressed at the meeting.

The harbour plan is by no means the whole answer. Indeed there are many details that need addressing. However we again go back to the fundamental. Do you waant to die slowley of do something?