Shotley Pier

[Habebty]

More from the Suffolk Gazette, oops sorry , Ipswich Star, on the proposed Shotley pier redevelopment.


http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/suffolks-shotley-pier-has-planning-permisson-rejected-1-5662638

 

[Tam Lin]

Brilliant! It can carry on falling down then!

 

[Major_Clanger]

Although the same council were happy to allow many of the splendid buildings at Ganges to be demolished in the 90s.... Seems an odd decision really, I'm assuming the group need a way to generate funds to restore the pier?

 

[matthewriches]

I remember it sat there when I was allowed to escape from Holbrook school. Rotting away happily. We all used to dare each other how far they could get. Can't really see how it could be a hugely popular thing. As with many volunteer projects, it all starts well, then people get bored and it just becomes another thing gone by.

It is more a jetti though than a peir lol

 

[Tomahawk]

In reality it is well past it's use before date. There is no longer an economic need for such a facility. It could possibly become the focus for new development, but that would need a change of attitude from opposing everything to creating opportunity. Then the bug huggers would get in on the act and object because it might disturb a worm and a bird might be not have a derilict pile of rubbish on which to crap. Then the people will object that it is attracting traffic and visitors need somewhere to park ...which must be restricted.

It is far more envrionmentally responsible to fly off to a third world country that has sub standard environmental protection and allows any sort of develolment without the supporting waste management and sewage treatment.

 

[pvb]

It is far more envrionmentally responsible to fly off to a third world country that has sub standard environmental protection and allows any sort of develolment without the supporting waste management and sewage treatment.

Do you visit Spain frequently?

 

[PaulRainbow]

Very basically ;

The money was raised to purchase the pier on the premise that it would be restored to it's original condition, outline planning had been granted for two small kiosks at the beginning of the pier. After the money was raised, in part by selling shares to local people and the formation of a limited company, the directors of this new "company" had plans drawn up for the development that was just rejected.

The shareholders were unaware of the proposed development until the plans had been drawn up and submitted. The pier has no land, so any building would be on the fore shore and there is no provision for car parking. There are a handful of public parking spaces opposite the Bristol Arms, the car parking and the road from just past the Bristol Arms down to the marina is private property, owned by Shotley Marina, who have provided and maintain the car parking after the Bristol Arms. When asked, at a recent site meeting, where customers of the proposed restaurant would park one of the developers said they could park in the car park spaces and road side leading to the marina, which is all private property.

Restoring the pier is a romantic notion, it will cost a fortune to renovate and will never generate enough of an income to fund it's own maintenance.

 

[Tomahawk]

Do you visit Spain frequently?

Back in 2013, raw sewage going into the sea in Vivero.

 

[photodog]

Very basically ;

The money was raised to purchase the pier on the premise that it would be restored to it's original condition, outline planning had been granted for two small kiosks at the beginning of the pier. After the money was raised, in part by selling shares to local people and the formation of a limited company, the directors of this new "company" had plans drawn up for the development that was just rejected.

The shareholders were unaware of the proposed development until the plans had been drawn up and submitted. The pier has no land, so any building would be on the fore shore and there is no provision for car parking. There are a handful of public parking spaces opposite the Bristol Arms, the car parking and the road from just past the Bristol Arms down to the marina is private property, owned by Shotley Marina, who have provided and maintain the car parking after the Bristol Arms. When asked, at a recent site meeting, where customers of the proposed restaurant would park one of the developers said they could park in the car park spaces and road side leading to the marina, which is all private property.

Restoring the pier is a romantic notion, it will cost a fortune to renovate and will never generate enough of an income to fund it's own maintenance.

If they want a decent restaurant locally, they should start by restoring the Shipwreck to someplace that does decent food...

 

[matthewriches]

I hear the burger van is quite nice when he's there

If they want a decent restaurant locally, they should start by restoring the Shipwreck to someplace that does decent food...

 

[Tomahawk]

If they want a decent restaurant locally, they should start by restoring the Shipwreck to someplace that does decent food...

Chicken and egg ..
You can only do food that will sell to the potential market. Would people from thereabouts actually buy fine food if offered or revert to beans with everything at the greasy spoon?,

 

[PaulRainbow]

Chicken and egg ..
You can only do food that will sell to the potential market. Would people from thereabouts actually buy fine food if offered or revert to beans with everything at the greasy spoon?,

Seriously ?

Some people just can't help themselves.

"Revert to beans with everything" is an unnecessary and offensive comment.

 

[Elemental]

I have never been convinced that the pier restoration could (or even should) be anything more than a romantic folly for those that simply wanted to own and enjoy the pier - nothing wrong in that. Making it a viable commercial venture is difficult and not fair (IMHO) on local commercial businesses that do not enjoy public funding. There are only so many visitors that will drive down the peninsula and businesses struggle there at the moment.

The Bristol Arms has suffered a few closures during my tenancy at Shotley but I quite enjoy the atmosphere there (the food can be a bit hit and miss tho.). I'd like to see the tearoom they run do well to help ensure the pub's long-term survival.

 

[LittleSister]

Chicken and egg ..
You can only do food that will sell to the potential market. Would people from thereabouts actually buy fine food if offered or revert to beans with everything at the greasy spoon?,

I think it's not the style of dining (greasy spoon would be fine by me), but the quality of the food/cooking, the service and the attitude.

I have been unable to finish a badly cooked, very simple meal (soup and roll) there despite being ravenous after 17+ hours on the helm, with a non-function cooker (regulator failure shortly after departure) and only a Mars bar and a couple of packets of cheese straws for the whole trip. The soup had so much pepper in it I found it inedible, but that was (in theory) arguably a matter of taste. I politely took back to the counter the uncooked roll (part-baked type that had just been warmed in microwave, so still dough inside), and got a very surly response, and an identical replacement roll slapped onto my plate with a grunt. It was not busy at the time.

I'm based at Shotley (which is otherwise good), but avoid the Shipwreck. I don't understand how Shotley have allowed the situation to continue for so long.