weston super mare...

[STFC_Gazzza]

Gutting. used to go here with my Grandparents as a kid. Feels like a part of my childhood has been taken away...

[sonic youth]

there's something very british about piers.

and not piers morgan

[BrightonRed]

I hope it wasnt something naughty like an insurance job

Definite possibility. It's a quick way out if you realise you're gonna struggle to recoup your investment, especially as you'd be able to inflate your claim for loss of earnings because of the anticipated increase in visitors due to the bar, go-kart track etc. The business was probably (strictly speaking) insolvent for the current period, at least until a full summer had been completed so if a big creditor came knocking there may not have been much money in the pot to pay them.

Or it could have been an innocent accident obviously!

[Luci]

They said on the radio looked like it was down to a deep fat fryer.  They spent a bomb refurbing it and it only re-opened in April so pretty sure its not an insurance job. The guy who half owns it according to the BBC is flying back from his holiday and is devastated.  Gutted for them.

[janaage]

Do me a favour Lady, the guy is only gutted because he knows it's a huge inconvenience to him.  It's not like he's going to lose the roof over his head.  He's just going to have to wait a little longer to get a decent return on his investment.  I find a story about a house fire where people lose their home more sad than this I'm afraid.  And like others have said thank God no one was killed.

Pumbaa I make no apology of not giving a monkeys, but I will say I like the tone of your post, don't spend weeks, months, or years banging on about what a disaster this is for Weston, time to look forward and rebuild something bigger and better.  Maybe with this being in the nations faces that kind of development won't just be a pipe line dream.

[Reg Smeeton]

there's something very british about piers.

and not piers morgan

 Piers the Ploughman might be a better exemplar.

[pumbaa]

Do me a favour Lady, the guy is only gutted because he knows it's a huge inconvenience to him.  It's not like he's going to lose the roof over his head.  He's just going to have to wait a little longer to get a decent return on his investment.  I find a story about a house fire where people lose their home more sad than this I'm afraid.  And like others have said thank God no one was killed.

Pumbaa I make no apology of not giving a monkeys, but I will say I like the tone of your post, don't spend weeks, months, or years banging on about what a disaster this is for Weston, time to look forward and rebuild something bigger and better.  Maybe with this being in the nations faces that kind of development won't just be a pipe line dream.

I don't really have any direct affinity with Weston - I just happen through circumstance and job location (Bristol) to live there. But it pisses me off no end to hear people constantly slagging it off. Yes, it has its faults, but then doesn't every town or city in the country.

What has irked me no end since I returned earlier this year is the Tropicana debacle. The place is a fucking eyesore. Its just a complete farce, and hopefully what has happened today will galvanise those responsible for all the piss balling around with the whole Tropicana issue to get together and sort out an affordable and agreeable redevelopment plan for the whole seafront. Its similarity to the whole CG redevelopment under the previous regime is actually quite striking....

[Bogus Dave]

what was/is tropicana?


and i agree with janaage fwiw. its only a pier, and theres little there anyway.

[Luci]

Do me a favour Lady, the guy is only gutted because he knows it's a huge inconvenience to him.  It's not like he's going to lose the roof over his head.  He's just going to have to wait a little longer to get a decent return on his investment.  I find a story about a house fire where people lose their home more sad than this I'm afraid.  And like others have said thank God no one was killed.

Pumbaa I make no apology of not giving a monkeys, but I will say I like the tone of your post, don't spend weeks, months, or years banging on about what a disaster this is for Weston, time to look forward and rebuild something bigger and better.  Maybe with this being in the nations faces that kind of development won't just be a pipe line dream.

I don't know the bloke but if he put a lot of personal effort into rebuilding this (like it says he did) and getting involved himself then I feel for him.  How would you like to spend a lot of time and money working on something and then having it burnt to the ground?

I don't know the full situation so I can't say too much, but I'm amazed at your lack of sensitivity when you don't actually know anything about the bloke or how involved he was/wasn't in the project.

[Jamiesfuturewife]

Dave the Tropicana was an amazinging outdoor pool on the seafront - it had a big pineapple with a water slide coming out of it and stuff

and upstairs was a train museum thing

its been derililitc for years and the council are fussing over what to do with it

[Bogus Dave]

oh right. can see how that might have been a half decent attraction. were the drinks free?

[Jamiesfuturewife]

No - I never saw George or Andrew there either

although there were many other men in delighful 80's style trunks Im sure

[Batch]

Fact is a lot seaside towns are "a bit shit" when you look at them.  I love the small fishing villages, but larger towns always seem to somehow be a bit rubbish.

I do think its a shame. Maybe not in the grand scheme of things when it comes to life, but Weston (and the piers workforce) will be a worse place without it.

[janaage]

I don't know the bloke but if he put a lot of personal effort into rebuilding this (like it says he did) and getting involved himself then I feel for him.  How would you like to spend a lot of time and money working on something and then having it burnt to the ground?

I don't know the full situation so I can't say too much, but I'm amazed at your lack of sensitivity when you don't actually know anything about the bloke or how involved he was/wasn't in the project.

That's probably why I have no sensitivity to the whole situation, don't know the bloke, not familiar with the work he has or hasn't done, the insurance will pay for most of it etc, only been to WSM twice.  I just don't have a connection with it at all.  Therefore I find it difficult to be saddened by the bloke's loss.

I will say I do feel a bit sorry for the "workers" as they have lost their living, but only as much as I feel sorry for the contractors who were on board the Death Star (trying to complete it) when the rebels, led by Skywalker blew it up No one shed a tear for them or their families did they? (ref - Clerks, K.Smith)

[Samdy Gray]

I have to admit the OTT news coverage on BBC Points West really got on my tits. Buildings burn down every day FFS.