Views of the Tropicana building.
BREAKING NEWS: Legal action for Trop fails
Bethan Evans, Reporter
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
5:16 PM
A JUDICIAL review into plans to demolish Weston’s Tropicana has been refused by the High Court after the judge claimed the application was ‘unarguable.’
Leader of North Somerset Council Nigel Ashton said he was pleased the review - which was launched by campaign group Trop (WSM) Ltd - has failed but was not surprised after judge Stephen Morris declined the legal proceedings.
Cllr Ashton said: “This is welcome news. This application has fallen at the first hurdle which is a good indication as to the lack of strength in the case they were putting forward.”
Council executives decided to demolish the former pool last year but because it lies within a conservation area, the application needs the approval of Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles.
Trop (WSM) Ltd, headed by Puxton Park owner Derek Mead, launched its legal challenge after claiming the council failed to consult properly before voting earlier this year to pull down the disused building.
Cllr Ashton said: “From the outset we said we would robustly defend our position - that is what we have done and I am very pleased at the outcome.
“We have been at great pains to follow correct procedure and I am glad that we are not wasting any more public money on a case which clearly has no merit.
“Instead, our full attention can be focused on now getting permission from secretary of state, Mr Eric Pickles, to demolish the old buildings and further improve Weston’s seafront and seek to attract even more inward investment to the area.”
Mr Mead said: “I find it very peculiar that we were not notified that the review was declined. Why has the High Court notified the council and not us?
“I don’t know what has happened. It seems that Nigel Ashton is pleased to go against the majority of the Weston population.
“I find it a disgusting state of affairs and we will get to the bottom of it.”
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20 comments
These idiots in control dont want to loose face, I'm sure it was them who wanted to get shot of Portishead Pool, but begrudgingly allowed a Trust to take it on similarly to what Mr Mead suggests, and look at it now! Have a look at the web-site Portishead Pool Community Trust , because that what they did and it works! Unfortunately the muppets in control dont want to see a similar fate to the Trop as they will be embarrassed to admit they were wrong !
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TrueWestonian
Friday, July 27, 2012
Still all run by one company in cahoots with the council. Private means, seperate companies in business to generate trade and offers. As these are run now they are not making anything, and are still funded by the tax payer.
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Les B.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
4pm. Wednesday, Just drove up the Sea Front, if anyone needed a case for us having an all year round Water Facility Pool on the seafront, take a look at the crammed full Water Park and Hundreds on the Mud trying to get to the Sea! Also was in Penzance this morning, Lido very busy, although their tide was in too! If we loose the possibility of keeping or re-establishing the Trop, we may as well slit our wrists of trying to keep up with the main Tourist destinations!
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TrueWestonian
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
4pm. Wednesday, Just drove up the Sea Front, if anyone needed a case for us having an all year round Water Facility Pool on the seafront, take a look at the crammed full Water Park and Hundreds on the Mud trying to get to the Sea! Also was in Penzance this morning, Lido very busy, although their tide was in too! If we loose the possibility of keeping or re-establishing the Trop, we may as well slit our wrists of trying to keep up with the main Tourist destinations!
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TrueWestonian
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
They're all ready operated by the private sector. The Playhouse, Winter Gardens, Tourist Information Service and Hutton Moor are all run by Parkwood Leisure Limited, not NSC.
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Weston2010
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Everything that the council owns, runs at a loss.eg: Winter gardens, Playhouse,and the defunct Tropicana. I think the time has come to put all council run premises into the hands of the private sector, then they will be profitable. The council is only there to feather it's own nest.
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Les B.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Weston People should run Weston town center and decision's such as the Tropicana should be put out to a public vote. If Weston was run as a stand alone authority , it would easily break even but at the Minute as reported a few weeks ago in the mercury , our council tax is currently being used to police areas up North.
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Charlotte Cope
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Will we see a nice concrete slab on the beach which will be used for car parking to replace those going to fund parking meters in the town. Once this iconic building has gone it will never be replaced. So once again Weston loses another tourist area. Does North Somerset Council really want tourists in the town? OK, people will just have to wait for the tide to come in then!
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Colsey
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Well that's another place that won't see any water. The other is the fountain in Pier Square, I can't remember when that was last working.
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DA
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Bill, Nice but the little ones are catered for with the excellent Water Park. What about Knightstone Swimming Club? People who want to swim when Hutton Moor holds a gala? Days when the sun doesn't shine, and what about those too old to be entertained by a paddling pool? A seaside town with nowhere to swim would not be on my list of holiday destinations if I wasn't lucky enough to live here.
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MarkBradshaw
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
I hope that this is the end of it at last Flatten the area and have a fresh start with something -- even a paddling Pool -- Water (even a trickle) plus kids plus Sunshine == Funshine -- Look how well the little park further along is doing? My origins are in the North and close to home were streams coming from the Pennines -cool clear spring water which we were more than happy to splash about in - no ice cream vans , no burger bars -- just clean air and clean fresh spring water.
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bill
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Tony - Shame on you ! I recall you were only too happy to use the PoolTropicana when it was fit for purpose, and we were there as teenagers in Summer & Winter! What on earth do you think that the Council will add in its place? - oh of course they can certainly make more money car parking on the beach! Look at the shambles our beach lawns are now in - because they allowed Vehicles(T4) to churn it up and used the beach.. for Car Parking! Come on Weston Wake up! This is a joke - we are a seaside resort with no Swimming facilites now anywhere near the town center!
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Maggie Salvage
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Ah well, we may not have any place to swim along the sea-front, but we'll be famed for our ski slope, that is if Leisuredome can generate enough interest within the business community? Off to Portishead we go for the next 50 years - has Portishead got a Frankie & Bennys?
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Mukiwa
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
'have'
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MarkBradshaw
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Ashton doesn't care what Westonians think 'cause he's not from Weston, same with some of the others at NSC like Ap Rees. More money down the drain, though.
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Weston2010
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Well its never really been in doubt. The place should of been knocked flat years ago...once the other businesses pulled out. Stop wasting our money Mr Mead and maybe you could contribute to the demolision costs as a sort of repayment...just an idea.
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T-Bone
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
That is the problem Mr Ashton; you are defending YOUR position, not that of the majority (or at least those who can be bothered to make themselves heard) of the town. How will some extra sand draw in investment? And investment in what? What more does the seafront need?
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MarkBradshaw
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
This place has been a drain on us council tax payers for years, if mr mead wants to keep it let him have it, and he can repay all the money it has cost us, if he is not prepaired to pay then knock it down and put it back to a beach.
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anthony hoskins
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Just hope that mr Mead can hold them up till the elections, does anyone know when they are? Shame on you Aston shame on you, look after the north of the district as I doubt youll have anyone left in this town after the next election.
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Simo
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
I somehow fail to think this is the end to the matter. as to Cllr Ashtons comments around even more inward investment in this area, who has invested in this area so far, and who in their right minds will invest in this area with this bunch of no hopers, who have no idea of what the town or tourists want, in charge?
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TrueWestonian
Tuesday, July 24, 2012