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 12/08/2008, 4:48 AM
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lemoncakes
 
Joined on 09/06/2008
Weston-super-Mare
Posts 264
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The History of the Tropicana in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset
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okay, I never actually went there personally I was too busy frequenting the local bars, drowning my sorrows (in whiskey and beer) - but I woke up in the meantime to find there is no pool, heck who stole the pool ?
I realise that a girt, phallic structure is on the cards to be build in it's place - and in time, that will be given a suitable nick name by the locals - as long as the Pier is bigger and higher when rebuilt...
- Anyway I was searching through google for history of the tropicana and couldn't find one that matched my search - note: - not even wikipedia has a separate page for the pool that everyone says they remembered...The pool that we all forgot about, can't blame it all on the council (no, I don't work for them, but they are welcome to hire me as a website PR agent for a tidy sum a year, if they can deal with bad spelling and emotional outbursts if anyone b*tches at me or my stuff)
- Anyway (again) an extract from a pdf gives a little bit of history for anyone interested before it is smashed to the ground in yet another act of corporate vandalism - or progress - depending on your mood.
Full html view of the pdf can be found here
extract of interest: red writing is my reading of it - excuse the mess.
"Environmental Statement
1.4.8
The style of the existing building is of a flat roof with simple rendered rusticated
pilasters and Art Deco features, such as the hand railing. The original diving board (now
demolished) was also an Art Deco structure* (this implies that the build is an Art Deco building, an often commented feature of the town as a whole - ART DECO and Victorian buildings) . The buildings are currently vacant and are
not listed either nationally or locally* (this might indicate that these building possibely could have been listed, it's just a matter of fact they aren't - so why aren't they listed ? - just because the diving board is gone doesn't mean other parts couldn't be restored if people were keen on that idea)
1.4.9
To the east of the site, the land is generally flat, however, the Beach lawns lie slightly
higher than the promenade, at approximately 8.2m AOD, with a rockery in between the
levels at some locations. In the wider context, to the north, the land rises to a ridge
beyond the town centre at Worlebury Hill.
Listed Structure
1.4.10
Immediately adjacent to the Tropicana site is a listed, Victorian gazebo shelter. Its
timber roof structure and lead covering is supported by timber posts, on top of a raised
stone perimeter wall, sheltering timber seating inside with partially glazed elevations.
History of the site
1.4.11
In 1937 the site was first developed as an open-air pool with a magnificent Art Deco
diving stage. It was built on the beach, as an extension to the promenade, with its own
perimeter sea wall. The aim of the pool was to overcome visitor's difficulties in reaching
the sea to bathe, which involved a considerable walk across the sand at low tide.
1.4.12
A number of extensions and alterations were subsequently carried out in the 1950's and
1970's, but it was not until 1981 that the site received a major refurbishment and was
rebranded as "Tropicana". This restored its fortunes for some time, however, the
unattractiveness of an open-air pool, when set against relatively cheap air travel to
sunshine destinations, proved decisive and the pool was finally closed approximately
seven years ago * (Costa del Sol and package holidays were pretty standard by then. it's 10 year now isn't it feel like it's been shut longer than that!)"
I'm a Video blogger and an Internet Thingy too!
You can twitter me: @lemonknickers
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15/08/2008, 9:35 AM
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furby
Joined on 25/07/2008
banwell
Posts 50
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Re: The History of the Tropicana in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset
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the trop was the mistake.. and the biggest act of corporate vandalism was the destrustion of the diving platform to make way for a hideous plastic pineapple, honestly it was the father of the carrot!!!!!!which , i think, should be renamed in honour of our towns brave attempt to clean the entire population of the uk. ladies and gentlemen, (sorry,,, bruvs and posse) i give you,,,the needle...regards furbs...
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09/09/2008, 11:20 PM
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lemoncakes
Joined on 09/06/2008
Weston-super-Mare
Posts 264
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Re: The History of the Tropicana in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset
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yeah, maybe the "Henry Boot Inn" should be made to errect a giant scuplture of a pineapple on it's roof in memory of that slide (it was a slide wasn't it ?!)
I'm a Video blogger and an Internet Thingy too!
You can twitter me: @lemonknickers
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10/09/2008, 5:21 PM
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Sun Tzu
Joined on 07/08/2008
Posts 161
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Re: The History of the Tropicana in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset
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Anybody who thinks they should put a swimming pool back there is barking up the wrong tree.
Make it into a big cinema so we can put the final nail in the Odeon's coffin.
Put a few nice restaurants there, but let's have a pizza express rather than a pizza hut.
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10/09/2008, 6:04 PM
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lemoncakes
Joined on 09/06/2008
Weston-super-Mare
Posts 264
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Re: The History of the Tropicana in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset
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they should put a family friendly, healthy eating place in there instead of takeaway food!
I'm a Video blogger and an Internet Thingy too!
You can twitter me: @lemonknickers
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The Weston Merc... » General » General chat » The History of the Tropicana in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset
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