Weston
Weston Revamped
Revamped
“a tedious little place” John Cleese
“thers nothing here for anyone over 7 or under 50”
“it could be a major tourist attraction but nothing has been done to improve the town for more than 20 years.�
“pile of tacky rubbish”
In 2008 the Pavillion on Weston Super Mere’s Grand Pier burned down. It was rebuilt in 2010 with a view to restore it to its former glory.
• “The Chavs” • “The Pier” • “The Drugs” • “The Dog Sh*t” • “The Decor” • “The Crime”
Worst thing about weston?
• “The Beach”
• “The Shopping” • “The Hotels” • “The Seniors”
• “The Gambling” • “The Council” • “The Winter” • “The Food” • “The Police”
Crime
The majority of crime in Weston is violent or antisocial behaviour. Between 2012 and 2013 there were 2719 cases of antisocial behaviour and 824 cases involving violent crime in central Weston Super Mare. Thats 10 crimes a day of which 3 involve violence.
There were only 18 robberies in the same year.
Antisocial Behaviour, violent and other crime are the most frequent types of disorder here. ‘Other’ refers to crimes such as drug related crimes and vandalism.
The root cause of may of these crimes could be a result of boredom.
Crime rates in central weston Other Crime Antisocial Behaviour
Robbery Violent Crime
Burglary Vehicle Crime
Many young residents raised an issue of a lack of amenities for the youth of Weston. A skate park would give young adults a place to spend time rather than loitering around housing estates in groups with nothing to do.
Solutions
A good sized skate park could replace this run down and barely used mini golf course. Its right on the beach which would create quite an attraction to the skating comunity, potentially breathing a bit of youthful life into the city centre.
The lack of music orientated night life gives young adults little to do in the evenings leaving them to drink alcohol and roam the streets. Most pubs stop serving at 11 o’clock, leaving people who need to let off some steam to wonder the streets afterwards.
Having a club that opens late with the focus being music would keep people drinking in a controlled, safe environment and keep focus on activity rather than violence or crime.
The aquarium, although currently very much in use, would make a good, large venue able, to be used for many different events, for a range of people. The novelty of a venue on the beach would make it a big attraction and generate jobs and a large amount of money.
The Gambling
With very little to do outside the summer months many people appear to spend their days gambling away money in the many arcades that line the side streets of the town centre.
The Food
There is little to eat here other than fish $ chips, sweets and icecream. This is a plan for a gormet restaurant to replace a dated “tacky� boarded up hotel. It has good space for an outdoor seating area which would be fitting and reinforce the holiday destination image Weston used to hold. The upstairs living areas could be converted into high quality beach front apartments creating desirible living spaces for either residents or holiday makers to rent.
Conveniently
Closed
My opinion? Weston Super Mare has a lot of potential but does not seem to cater for all types of people. It seems as though it is mainly built around the very young and the very old with not a lot to do for adolescents. It has an air of having been forgotten. I love the bright “tacky” diners and the garish signs. It has a real atmosphere that you don’t see anymore. Much of the town is like this but has been allowed to deteriorate rather than restored to keep its image. Many of the people I met there share the same opinion and would like to see it brought back to is former glory.
My general view of Weston is that its a vibrant place with a memorable past and future potential that has been treated badly. With a bit of thought it could be brought back as the thriving holiday destination it once was again.
Written & edited by Ioan Davies
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