Pub Talk

Weston – Santa’s Grottiest Grotto

On Saturday morning, I took a rare stroll through Weston town centre. Generally my only purpose for being in town is to get a fried breakfast, and to well, get a fried breakfast! This time I had an extra objective, preliminary research on the old Christmas shopping. It didn’t go well, principally because I really hate shopping, and probably because the fried breakfast weighed me down a bit. The internet really is the only place I can shop without wanting to kill, but I realise that Weston-super-Mare depends greatly upon trade generated by the Christmas season.

Which leads me to the burning issue….Why oh why with so much revenue to be won or lost, have they decked the proverbial halls with boughs of “holly” that look like they’re about 700 years old! I have never seen more tired and dilapidated Christmas decorations in my entire life! To attract people, you have to be attractive, a principle the decision makers seem to have forgotten, and not just at Yuletide.

I’m not sure of the facts, but I’m not a proper journalist so I don’t have to be! It could well be the case that some kindly hearted individual has paid for those decorations many years ago, and donated them to our fair town for subsequent festive celebrations. If that is the case, hats off to them, but I don’t think it was their intention that they should be used for eternity, and never be replaced!

If it’s down to a bunch of decent citizens that we have any decorations, then hats off to you. If it’s down to a more powerful organization (mentioning no names, but we pay them a special tax on a monthly basis!), then shame on you!

If Weston wants to get the cash rolling in, and defeat the credit crunch bogeyman, then rejuvenation is the name of the game. The Mall looks nice, The Mall does good business. Weston looks shabby, well, you do the math. And if anyone takes offence at that and says “well, I do very well for myself thank you very much”, you could always do better. That is the nature of business.

It should be the business of anyone who cares a jot for Weston-super-Mare and it’s fading beauty to ensure that next year the high street doesn’t look like Christmas in a zombie film!

Next time you walk through the high street, stop and really take notice. Truly observe the shabbiness, and get yourself worked up about it! If enough people come to the same conclusion then maybe we can do something about it.