Hotel bid for Bridgwater town centre (From Bridgwater Mercury)
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Hotel bid for Bridgwater town centre
7:00am Tuesday 20th March 2012 in Jobs News
The possible hotel site in Eastover
A CONTROVERSIAL bid to build an 80-bed hotel in the middle of Bridgwater would lead to car parking chaos in the town centre, opponents have claimed.
Developer DC Homes says the plan for the vacant unit next to the Aldi supermarket in Eastover would remove an eyesore from the town, create new jobs and boost the centre of Bridgwater.
However, Robert Walker, owner of the White Hart Hotel which neighbours the site, said it would be a 'disaster' for his business if the hotel opened and would lead to severe parking problems.
He said: “It would be direct competition for us but I don't see how the council can allow it to happen.
“There is very little parking around the area and the idea of putting a big hotel like this in the middle of town just doesn't work. It would be a disaster.”
Previous schemes for the site, which has been vacant for more than a decade, have included a care home, a bowling alley and accommodation.
The proposed development would involved the demolition of the existing buildings at 56-66 Eastover to be replaced by a hotel with a bar, restaurant and parking for 13 vehicles.
In its application to Sedgemoor District Council, DC Homes said: “Vehicle access to the hotel is proposed from Eastover and a travel plan has been produced. The area is accessible by alternative modes of transport, with excellent pedestrian access.
“The economic impact of the hotel would be a positive one as guests would use local facilities in Bridgwater.”
A consultation period on the scheme is now under way and a decision will be made by planning bosses at the council later this year.
To view the plans in detail, vist the related link below and enter reference 08/12/00050.
Comments(36)
RustyKnight
says...
10:12am Tue 20 Mar 12
Back ON topic - why does everything that could be good for the town have so many people against it?
latitude
says...
11:16am Tue 20 Mar 12
andelain
says...
11:35am Tue 20 Mar 12
alibridgwater
says...
12:01pm Tue 20 Mar 12
latitude wrote:Totally agree with latitude. The greatest good to the greatest numbers should be the rule here. Quoting the only business in town which would be adversely impacted, as being the overall opinion doesn't really help the situation
How many people are actually against this? The article only mentions one person...is this simply more sensationalising by the Mercury? Building a new hotel on the Eastover/Broadway junction can only be a good thing for the town, so good luck DC Homes! (By the way Mercury, it’s Aldi not Lidl)
MINIME2
says...
12:25pm Tue 20 Mar 12
swjoduk
says...
12:27pm Tue 20 Mar 12
The aforementioned bus station is behind it to cater for people travelling to Bridgwater by coach and the train station is 10mins walk away.
latitude
says...
12:59pm Tue 20 Mar 12
MINIME2 wrote:As is stated in the article...
bullhorn, you dont need to see wjich way this will go it's probably all but signed and sealed. I thought I read a while back that an application had been put in to build a residential home for the elderly on this site ?
esselle13
says...
1:05pm Tue 20 Mar 12
bullhorn
says...
1:48pm Tue 20 Mar 12
esselle13 wrote:Sorry but we are talking about SDG in their dictionary forwards means backward.
Bridgwater is in dire need of regeneration and this is a prime example of what is needed in the town to help attract people to it.A new hotel in that location would do very well as its perfect for Carnival, easy access to the train, bus station and motorway. The more new business that comes to the town the better as its going to be needed when the new power station is built. There are people moving to the town all the time and we have nothing to offer them really. This is a good step forward. Go for it.
BridgwaterSteve
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1:55pm Tue 20 Mar 12
sheldoncooper
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2:34pm Tue 20 Mar 12
artful280
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4:12pm Tue 20 Mar 12
LindaK55
says...
4:45pm Tue 20 Mar 12
I can only think that the White Hart would be off putting for the resident of the new hotel, not the other way round, after seeing what stumbles of of it regularly!
Why are people always so negative everything something different is proposed? Are there any other hotels in the town centre?
BridgwaterSteve
says...
5:15pm Tue 20 Mar 12
sheldoncooper wrote:It doesn't seem to be enforced at present - I've used it while going to a hospital appointment and to go the shops on Eastover, that may well get stopped.
Aldis car park is already restricted - there are clear signs there for customers only and max waiting times with a fine payable for exceeding / breaching
sheldoncooper
says...
5:22pm Tue 20 Mar 12
BridgwaterSteve wrote:Same here but one day they're going to have a field day :)
sheldoncooper wrote:It doesn't seem to be enforced at present - I've used it while going to a hospital appointment and to go the shops on Eastover, that may well get stopped.
Aldis car park is already restricted - there are clear signs there for customers only and max waiting times with a fine payable for exceeding / breaching
Samej1
says...
5:46pm Tue 20 Mar 12
RustyKnight
says...
6:37pm Tue 20 Mar 12
sheldoncooper wrote:I know of people who got clamped in Aldi car park for being there too long, I'm guessing some of you are just lucky!
BridgwaterSteve wrote:Same here but one day they're going to have a field day :)
sheldoncooper wrote:It doesn't seem to be enforced at present - I've used it while going to a hospital appointment and to go the shops on Eastover, that may well get stopped.
Aldis car park is already restricted - there are clear signs there for customers only and max waiting times with a fine payable for exceeding / breaching
Bridgy old Boy
says...
7:52pm Tue 20 Mar 12
swjoduk
says...
7:53pm Tue 20 Mar 12
Back on topic, hopefully this hotel (if approved) will regenerate Eastover and its empty shops and run down premises.
One shop i frequented there, Open Bottles has not been open for days and their old London Taxi has had all the logo's removed so I fear it has closed? Another one bites the dust, shame as it was the only place in town to get certain real ales!
MINIME2
says...
8:17pm Tue 20 Mar 12
BaldCarl2
says...
8:38pm Tue 20 Mar 12
As for trade that it brings into the town - pubs, restaurants etc to cater for people staying in the hotel
BaldCarl2
says...
8:41pm Tue 20 Mar 12
swjoduk wrote:If you get a parking ticket whilst parked on private property (such as Aldi car park) then ignore it.
Aldi now use Parking Eye, there are cameras which use automatic number plate recognition. Park for more than the allowed time and you will more than likely get a letter through the post demanding payment. Parking Eye operate in some car parks in Taunton (Priory Fields) and in Yeovil and I know people who have been caught by the cameras. You wont get clamped or a ticket on the car, it will arrive through the post. Be warned!
Back on topic, hopefully this hotel (if approved) will regenerate Eastover and its empty shops and run down premises.
One shop i frequented there, Open Bottles has not been open for days and their old London Taxi has had all the logo's removed so I fear it has closed? Another one bites the dust, shame as it was the only place in town to get certain real ales!
Legally, it is unenforceable.
I've had 2 of these and nothing has happened yet.
Jack Spanner
says...
11:13pm Tue 20 Mar 12
bullhorn
says...
7:38am Wed 21 Mar 12
swjoduk wrote:swjoduk
Aldi now use Parking Eye, there are cameras which use automatic number plate recognition. Park for more than the allowed time and you will more than likely get a letter through the post demanding payment. Parking Eye operate in some car parks in Taunton (Priory Fields) and in Yeovil and I know people who have been caught by the cameras. You wont get clamped or a ticket on the car, it will arrive through the post. Be warned!
Back on topic, hopefully this hotel (if approved) will regenerate Eastover and its empty shops and run down premises.
One shop i frequented there, Open Bottles has not been open for days and their old London Taxi has had all the logo's removed so I fear it has closed? Another one bites the dust, shame as it was the only place in town to get certain real ales!
Open bottles has permanently shut.
Not enough trade to make it viable.
Depending what real ales you drink
the Crown inn is selling four cask ales.From Cottage and Yeovil breweries.
BaldyLocks
says...
12:33pm Wed 21 Mar 12
Any visitors to the town would probably want to leave asap.
Surely if they HAD to stay in the area they would look for somewhere in Taunton or beyond?
swjoduk
says...
12:48pm Wed 21 Mar 12
bullhorn wrote:Really, I thought the crown was only serving Cottage. Which Yeovil ales are on? I had tried Ruby but would like to try some others
swjoduk wrote: Aldi now use Parking Eye, there are cameras which use automatic number plate recognition. Park for more than the allowed time and you will more than likely get a letter through the post demanding payment. Parking Eye operate in some car parks in Taunton (Priory Fields) and in Yeovil and I know people who have been caught by the cameras. You wont get clamped or a ticket on the car, it will arrive through the post. Be warned! Back on topic, hopefully this hotel (if approved) will regenerate Eastover and its empty shops and run down premises. One shop i frequented there, Open Bottles has not been open for days and their old London Taxi has had all the logo's removed so I fear it has closed? Another one bites the dust, shame as it was the only place in town to get certain real ales!swjoduk Open bottles has permanently shut. Not enough trade to make it viable. Depending what real ales you drink the Crown inn is selling four cask ales.From Cottage and Yeovil breweries.
bullhorn
says...
1:20pm Wed 21 Mar 12
At the moment Stargazer,Next summerset possibly on weekend
ohdearithappenedagain
says...
2:42pm Wed 21 Mar 12
andelain wrote:I pointed that school-boy error out on Tuesday but the moderators removed my comments.
I would think Bridgwater needs all the help it can get! Anything that helps improve the economy (not to mention the state of Eastover) can only be good for the town. (BTW its next to Aldi supermarket, not Lidl)
Seems freedom of speech isn't allowed on this site, even if it is ON topic....
swjoduk
says...
7:44pm Wed 21 Mar 12
bullhorn
says...
9:29pm Wed 21 Mar 12
But these two pubs have been part of this town for decades.For those readers,Drinking cask ales becomes a passion.With over a Thousand plus try.
Both the Crown and Fountain are selling ales from Somerset,which puts money into the Somerset economy.At the moment the Fountain has Exmoor with RCH Pitchfork next.
MINIME2
says...
9:54pm Wed 21 Mar 12
bullhorn
says...
10:31pm Wed 21 Mar 12
MINIME2 wrote:Minime2
I must have missed something here. Two people talking about alcohol I thought this was to do with building a hotel in Bridgwater ?
Sorry but in my comment i did state that we have diverted away from the subject of the hotel.And i do apologies.
But these to business would benefit from a new hotel.
It`s not just Bridgwater folk who read these comments.
If you were coming to Bridgwater for the first time,people would read up on the town.The mercury site would be the one of the sites you would read.
You can gain a lot of information from these comments.To an outsider it can be a useful guide
to see whats what.
scally666
says...
12:47pm Thu 22 Mar 12
cemh81
says...
8:07pm Fri 23 Mar 12
DannyDyersChocolateHomunculus
says...
12:10pm Sat 24 Mar 12
bullhorn says...
7:49am Tue 20 Mar 12
It is a shame that a town which lives for carnival Does not do anything to improve it`s image to the thousands of visitors who come to the town every November.
Perhaps they would stay longer if there was a hotel central to the town, and on the carnival route.
So lets wait an see who wins this planning application .
Because if it goes the wrong way then Eastover will be an area which will neither recover and the businesses will die.Because it`s on deaths door now.