Urban Splash & MTC

[WillowTheWhisp]

Pro-Urban Splash facebook page? Please could you give me a link.

[brian]

www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=25563102174

1,060 members

[WillowTheWhisp]

Thanks Brian, I have just joined and will be following with interest.

[brian]

Jun 15, 2010 14:49:09 GMT WillowTheWhisp said:

Jun 14, 2010 12:29:38 GMT ukuleleron said:

Since I was a lad, people have twizzled on about building a marina, the Dome/Bubbles site would be great, dug out back to the old sea wall and using the Stone Jetty as one breakwater. Another breakwater would have to be built of course, and lock gates but it would be a wonderful use of the land. Not commercially viable of course but a happy pipe dream.

Oh wouldn't that be lovely?

On the subject of prom develpment plans has anybody any idea who is behind 'The Morecambe and Heysham Promenade Preservation Society' and what they actually hope to acheive?

Anyone seen the ad in this week's reporter, "The It's Our Prom Campaign". Meeting June 24th 7pm, shame I didn't get home to read it until late last night.

Interesting to note the venue for the meeting, Winter Gardens. There's only one person likely to arrange it there, Archer. That woman will destroy our town.

[accykeef]

I had planned on going but I wasn't back in Morecambe until late.
It would be interesting to know what went on.

I tried the link but got nowhere apart from a general page saying Lancaster Council may not display all planning apps.

I am in favour of a development near the Midland but would need to study the complete plans rather than some pretty artist's impressions before making a final decision of whether I am in favour or not.

There are a lot of people who are against any development as it will spoil the view.

What View?
Stand by the war memorial and you can see nowt!

The view they refer to?
Maybe the view from the proposed restaurant in the Winter Gardens - if that is the case, then a statement of outside interest should be made by Council members who are wearing more than one hat.



I really don't do Facebook so I will give that a miss.
Anyone care to paste a resume into a post here?

[WillowTheWhisp]

I was one of those people not wanting anything to spoil the view until Brian pointed out to me that at that particular point where the proposed development is there is not actually a view, merely an illusion with a few metal seagulls on a fence.

[brian]

I didn't realise about the "view" myself, it was pointed out to me by someone who had to remain neutral.

I've just added 5 more press releases from LCC, I kept the most Morecambe relevant to last about the CoOp in the West End.

Nothing from MCC.

Don't forget the News and Jobs pages on the site, they take their data from other web sites so they are always fresh.

[ukuleleron]

For those of us who do facebook, The Winter Gardens has a page at

www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=270805056960&ref=mf#!/pages/Morecambe-United-Kingdom/Victoria-Pavillion-and-Winter-Gardens-Morecambe-and-Lancaster/33687554529?ajaxpipe=1&__a=13

Sorry for the long url which you may have to cut n paste.

I shall reserve comment on the contents.

[trevnhil]

Admittedly at least from my point of view, there is not really a view to spoil. Here it is from the 'Google street view' camera.




However if I were a Morecambe resident or ratepayer I would still be very interested in what was going to be built there. I personally am not too keen on the 7 story oblong blocks.



Trev

[WillowTheWhisp]

One problem is that we have not really seen a detailed model which would be nice, but then again in my experience finished developments do not always resemble artists' impressions or even models. I do like those crazy flowerlike lamp posts but can't help feeling that in a cost cutting excerise they would be the first thing to go.

What would be nice would be a few alternative ideas thrown open to public comment and vote.

[ukuleleron]

Jun 30, 2010 12:35:52 GMT WillowTheWhisp said:

What would be nice would be a few alternative ideas thrown open to public comment and vote.

It would be more acceptable if they at least made it look a bit more Art Deco in keeping with the Midland I think

[brian]

Re WG facebook page. Rather funny, councillors hide their details on their own council web site but quite happy to plaster them all over facebook ;D Evelyn or Mike on 01524 - ******

[jasond]

Brian, I'd like to find out what possible advantages US proposed development could bring, but by signing up to your Facebook site, I see that I will be assumed to be a supporter. Could you summarise them here please?

[brian]

Jason, I am quite happy to answer your question. I believe the development work itself will bring employment to the town followed by additional trades once the development is complete to maintain it. It also shows faith in what I have to call a degenerating town, a sign to other developers that Morecambe might just have a bright future. I see Urban Splash's plans as the start of that bright future.

The Morecambe I remember from my childhood is long gone. It is not a tourist attraction, the biggest draw to the town at the moment is the Sunday Market. There's a handful of arcades left and no live entertainment venue of any decent size.

Nor is it ever going to be a tourist town. We have to look elsewhere for out future. Let's get some fresh blood into the town, show the world a major player sees it is worth investing.

Those that oppose the plans, I ask what you would do to bring investment to Morecambe.

[jasond]

Brian, thanks for that. I wish I shared your optimism. My flip-side is that if the plans are approved, there are too many risks. Urban Splash, asset-rich but cash poor, may be tempted to sell their prize on and the overall project will stall. Or their contractors bring in their teams from elsewhere, not benefitting the local work-force. And other developers see that Morecambe is now over-developed and that US could only afford it from all the grants they got. Or that as Phase 1 nears completion and local entrepreneurs previously taking on properties like Chill, Shiraz, Palatine hold back only to get gazumped by regional/national chains so the current Prom and Euston Rd areas have the life sucked out of them. And it's going to take at least 8 years ... I regret my gloom and cynicism are deep.

Anyway(!), we could discuss our pros and cons all week and only agree to differ, but my real suspicion is that Lancaster CC see this as a sure-fire solution to their 'What shall we do with Morecambe?' perennial problem. Give Urban Splash the site, stuff it full of bedsits - sorry there I go again - studios, take the Council Tax and half the sale proceeds and no Council run attractions to finance. A win/win/win situation. No we didn't consult with the residents early on so we've got ourselves in a corner with secret promises and heavily doctored FoI responses, and yes it's in a conservation area, but hey we defined that so we can change the rules when it suits us, and yes there are less controversial sites for this sort of development within metres, but they aren't ours to give away ....

You say that Morecambe is no longer a tourist town, but it was an invention of the tourism industry. If it doesn't continue to attract visitors you're right it will degenerate, the Sunday Open-air Market has recently been leading the way there! There isn't a jobs base outside of tourism and supporting retired people. However, there is a surprising number of leisure activities still happening here to which Lancaster, with its deep understanding of Morecambe's needs, has responded by axeing Tourism Centre staff and closing the Dome. I still haven't got a grip on all the websites, forums and blogs run by people promoting special interest events in the town. Proactive tourism marketing is desperately needed and not just on the internet - the lazy man's soap box (yup, just like me now!). Park Life at the Platform earlier this year - excellent young bands - not even a billboard outside to tell casual visitors it was going on. Proms on the Prom with fireworks last year. Some of my family from down south were visiting - loved it. This year?

Enough - someone else's turn
Jason