Trop (WSM) Ltd plans for the former pool.
Council branded ‘a disgrace’ for pushing ahead with Trop demolition plans
Bethan Evans, Reporter
Saturday, April 14, 2012
12:00 PM
A NORTH Somerset councillor has branded the authority’s stance on the future of Weston’s Tropicana as ‘an absolute disgrace.’
This matter came to light after a report on proposals, put forward by group Trop (WSM) Ltd, to save the site said its plan was not viable.
Trop (WSM) Ltd compiled a redevelopment plan which included an Olympic-sized pool, water slides, shops and restaurants, after North Somerset Council’s executive voted to demolish the landmark.
The Secretary of State has been asked to confirm demolition – which only he can grant – and the deadline for his decision is less than two weeks away.
The group’s business plan was assessed by property consultants DTZ at the request of North Somerset Council, and its report says there are a number of inconsistencies in figures presented by the group, an over-reliance on grants and an under-estimate of redevelopment costs.
Trop (WSM) figurehead Derek Mead said the DTZ report is now being scrutinised by his accountants.
He said: “I do not think DTZ understands the figures, as the business plan was only a draft. I understand that DTZ has now been instructed not to speak to us. There are areas where they do not understand what the business plan states. And we still cannot talk to the council about it.”
Councillor Mike Bell has said he cannot understand why North Somerset’s executive members will not meet with the group.
He said: “It is an absolute disgrace that Nigel Ashton, Elfan Ap Rees and their executive cronies will not even sit around the table and talk.
“They are happy to spend public money commissioning reports to undermine alternative plans for the Tropicana. They are happy to spend taxpayers’ money on expensive barristers and legal advice to fight a judicial review in the High Court.
“Yet they cannot spare half an hour to sit around the table and see if there is any common ground to be found with Derek Mead and his business.”
Mr Mead said his group is now going to do its own report on DTZ’s response to outline the mistakes it has made.
He said: “My accountants are really annoyed about this report. There are a lot of things that could have been sorted out with DTZ but we can’t talk to them. But I don’t think there is anything insurmountable in the report, so we will have to see what happens.”
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16 comments
Very pleased to see that Weston Town Council have written to Eric Pickles objecting to demolition. NSC are looking rather like they've painted themselves into a corner.
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GuerrillaMarigolds
Friday, April 20, 2012
I sense the hand of Ap Rees in this - AGAIN.
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Weston Resident
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Its comments like the ones from Mike Bell that have messed up any chance of the Trop being saved. Like his political counterparts from Highbridge are messing up another Mead business plan.
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T-Bone
Sunday, April 15, 2012
This is my third attempt at making this point, the others not being put up to view. DTZ were only 4 months ago in administration, a failing business and are now only being given figures by a council with no history of success in either running a leisure facility or commercial venture for profit for that matter, indeed cant even manage to keep public toilets open! I would far more trust successful, experienced businessmen in this field putting their name to this this project than Cllr Ashton & Co. And a note to those think this is for the tourists only, Im fed up with Hutton Moor being closed due to galas etc,and with more homes being built this will have far more use by locals, such as the likes of Sedgemoor Splash did!
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TrueWestonian
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Ignore the rhetoric from opportunist local politicians - Mead's plan is a lame duck project. The dogs in the street will tell you a revamped Trop would never survive without some form of subsidy. How much longer do we have to endure this tedium and where are those bulldozers? I'm getting impatient.
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shameless contrarian
Sunday, April 15, 2012
What this town needs is independents to stand to kick the rubbish off the council and do what the ordinary people want, not what their over inflated ego's want. This town needs an enema, cos they are all a bunch of jokers
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slips
Sunday, April 15, 2012
What this town needs is independents to stand to kick the rubbish off the council and do what the ordinary people want, not what their over inflated ego's want. This town needs an enema, cos they are all a bunch of jokers
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slips
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Well not all the members that r said 2 speck for all us are not living in Weston but mostly Cleavdon or even Burnham-on-sea. So mayb they just wont it done with or don't care as much as they make out. Don't have much choice but 2 watch sadly.
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HappyNewyear StupidFocker
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Given that DTZ are international experts in their field I suspect they have more idea than the protesters. The fact is that a rebuilt Tropicana would never pay for itself because there is simply not enough demand. Not that many people want to come to Weston. They would rather go to the proper seaside rather than a muddy estuary
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pd
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Me thinks the council does not like Mr Mead and I don't think they liked Mr Nightingale as well, otherwise they might have used his company to relocate to Clevedon. Having said that I think Mr Nightingale was out of his depth (whoops!) with his strange plans and Mr Mead might be trying it on as well.
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DA
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Me thinks the council does not like Mr Mead and I don't think they liked Mr Nightingale as well, otherwise they might have used his company to relocate to Clevedon. Having said that I think Mr Nightingale was out of his depth (whoops!) with his strange plans and Mr Mead might be trying it on as well.
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DA
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Good point. Egos and politics on all sides. Mr Penrose, care to comment?
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anne adaptor
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Yeah, but remember that Mike Bell is more than likely looking after his own political career on this one, 'cause when it comes to the next general election I'm sure he'll happily remind the people of Weston where he stood over this latest Trop issue. It really is shameful that egos and politics has screwed this whole Tropicana redevelopment.
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Weston2010
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Yeah, but remember that Mike Bell is more than likely looking after his own political career on this one, 'cause when it comes to the next general election I'm sure he'll happily remind the people of Weston where he stood over this latest Trop issue. It really is shameful that egos and politics has screwed this whole Tropicana redevelopment.
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Weston2010
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Yeah, but remember that Mike Bell is more than likely looking after his own political career on this one, 'cause when it comes to the next general election he'll happily remind the people of Weston where he stood over this latest Trop issue. It really is shameful that egos and politics has screwed this whole Tropicana redevelopment.
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Weston2010
Saturday, April 14, 2012
When will Penrose stand up and bring these parties together, for the sake of the town and people he represents?
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anne adaptor
Saturday, April 14, 2012