Places features

What do you think? Has Weston gone downhill?

Ritchie
Finally - some high profile criticism of this once charming town. Woodspring Council have gotten away for years with it's comedy accountancy (I take it I'm not allowed to say corrupt on this site)(Knightstone, the The Tropicana - need I say more?)and it's about time they woke up and realised what a wonderful opportunity they have here. I used to live there for many years and it does indeed have much to offer but each time I go back it just appears bleaker and bleaker. It's not a lost cause - it just needs some money sent in the right direction and to be looked after by someone with a bit of vision.

Dave
I've been to Weston, I didn't even get out of the car, Keith Morris needs to get out more.

Darren L
I recently visited Weston for the first time. With 'holiday town' in mind I was horrifired to find the approach nothing more than an industrial estate, alongside another huge retail park area. This is just not what you go on holiday for! The seafront itself had all the air of a run down seaside town who's heyday has long gone. I'm afraid that whatever they do to the seafront, you will still have to drive through endless retail/industrial parks which have turned you off the place long before. Even the new ferris wheel is just tacky. It would take a hell of a lot of work and money to make the place attractive, but it sure needs it.

harold
Gone down hill, definitely. I cannot believe sprinklers were not fitted by the owners.

Harry winkler
I have many fond memories of Weston, I met my wife who used to go to college there, although not living in the town, after 20 years together, we think about our times in the winter gardens and local cafes, and all the good and bad times accosiated with weston, so for the most part, a big thumbs up for Weston.

Matt Jones
Weston has indeed become a dump of the highest order - lots of crime, unpleasant to look at and an overall bad atmosphere.The council are completely responsible for the mess they have made of it, but until the current bunch of monkeys are replaced by some intelligent and responsible primates I can't see anything changing.

Ruth
I live in Weston, and whilst I agree in part with Mr Cleese's comments I feel that it is unfair to lay the blame solely on the council/government as some people seem to. As residents of Weston we need to take some responsibility for the state of our town. It's not the council who go around littering the streets and fighting etc, it's the people who live here. In my opinion the people of Weston need to take more pride in their surroundings, and join together as a community, in order to give the town back some of it's charm and friendly family atmosphere. Yes, more facilities would be great, but this is only part of the equation. I don't profess to know the answer to Weston's problems, but I just feel that rather than moaning about the sorry state of affairs more Westonians should be prepared to be pro-active and play a part in making the town "super" again rather than waiting for others to do it for them.

fritzl_fan101
i got mugged four times on each of my visits to this hellish wasteland.

Julie
I have lived in Weston all my life just over 40 years and agree with John Cleese. Weston is a dump it is an awful place to live and to raise your kids. Just read the Weston Mercury people attacked weekly beaten up the drug addicts and alcoholics and now Bail houses it is going to get a lot worse and personally like so many others I am looking forward to leaving what once was a lovely seaside resort.

Stan
For twenty plus years my wife and I ran a business in WSM. The Business Rates we paid for the business were exorbitant but, in our innocence, we thought this would go towards all the amenities that were being talked about. It seemed that every week the local paper headlined new schemes way back to Peter de Savary who was going to become involved in projects within WSM. Absolutely none of the schemes ever came to anything. The Tropicana was the latest in a long line of supposed feasibility studies that never came to fruition. When we first went to WSM the Tropicana was thriving with long queues of people outside on a fine day. The hotels were doing OK but then it was found that opening a drug rehab centre was a better option. Once planning permission was given there was no stopping similar hotels running money-making drug rehab centres. The Tropicana has been shut for about 15 years and the drug rehab centres thrive. If a shop remains empty you can bet it will reinvent itself as a charity shop. Tell me which of these encourages visitors to come from far afield to visit a town which boasts a singular carrot. My wife and I no longer live in the town and if we saw it again it would be too soon but, please Weston, vote somebody in who cares and isn't going to offer platitudes that we've all heard so many times before. Best wishes to all the residents of this once fine seaside town.

sonn
the only good thing weston had going for it, has just burnt to the ground. sadly leaving us with no reason to visit any more

nightnurse
no!no!no!weston has lots of new restaurants and was recently mentioned as one of the top 10 seaside resorts to buy intoIt's not the town but some of the people that are the problem.

Rob Dodd
Weston needs to concentrate on its victorian history. It is ok for places like brighton to concentrate on the club scene - but Weston wont attract the youngsters for holidays. Message to council - dont let Weston become another Bridgwater. Look at places like Bath, Clifton, where they have valued and nurtured the Victorian feel. Weston, well maybe the pier burning down may enable YOU to make better decisions about the look of new buildings - taste not tack. And opposite the pier, yuk. Kebabs, clubs and junk shops. How could you let this happen ? You sold out this town to the night - trippers, to leave an empty shell with litter and other human waste during the day.Shame on you Weston Council.

Carole Kelly
My relatives live there, and i find it boring, the town and sea front look run down, and there is no atmosphere, it is a seaside town similar to Southport, which is more interesting

Mr Sad
Used to go there all the time when I was youg; wonderful place. Went there recently = DUMP. The Pier was the best thing ... whoops!

darren lumber
cleese is right do what my family and i did when scum lost me my job in police move to a better place like yorkshire. I did and my family and i love it.

Tony
As a resident of WSM I can only agree with Mr Cleese. Yes there are major building works taking place. They will undoubtedly help smarten up the resort but how many years has it taken to sort out some of of these projects?! Too long! Want to make a big difference to the town other than by building illuminated concrete carrots (new addition to the town centre)? I suggest we close some of the late night bars/clubs and do something about the drug addicts that plague the town. An early morning walk about the town will disgust most people, vomit, fights, litter... nothing to be proud of and plenty that brings a bad name to the town.

Craig T
Bravo. Totally agree with what John Cleese has to say. We've all known it for years. It really is a sad state of affairs. My pride in weston dwindles each time I visit. Craig.

Sandra
Totally agree with what john cleese has said, ive seen weston decline rapidly over the last 15 years. All of my friends and family agree as does the original westonians who have lived here for a long time. Westons a joke and embarrassment now, it used to be wonderful, pretty and full of charm. Shame on the council and there pathetic attempts to move weston 'forward'. More and more people are moving here but the facilities are only going down hill, I can go on and on a provide a list a mile long of the changes and problems but after living here for over 30 years ive had enough and our 4th generation family of weston are moving somewhere where the council actually appreciate and care about what the people need. Weston is in much need of a face lift and has been for 20 years, it looks dated cheap and a 'vicky pollards' heaven, dominated with cheap shops and tacky alcoholic haunts, littered with drunks and drug users. Our family could never go out on a weekend evening into the town centre for obvious reasons. I vote we employ some monkeys to make a better job of it all, because even a fool could see what weston needs, only god knows where all the money from over the years has gone and goes. Such a shame and could have been so different, it really isnt rocket science. Some of the money the council obviously have needs to seriously be spent. Good luck weston super mare, you really need it. Lets hope john cleeses comments can actually give the council the good needed kick they deserve, does anyone actually monitor what these people are doing with our money? I doubt nothing will change (or they might chuck up another fancy bus shelter) it because the locals have seen and heard it all before and personally im tired of waiting in vain, hoping something will be done about it. Im off and glad to be going.

Jason Beauchemin
Weston has some wonderful beaches, excellent parks & beautiful woods. However, Birnbeck Pier & the Tropicana complex are an eyesore & embarrassment to Weston. I have lived in Weston for over 30 years & can’t believe what council after council have done to Westons economy. Where are visitors to go? We have plenty of Charity shops & drug rehabilitation units but that’s not really family entertainment. Someone needs to shake things up & I commend John Cleese for his comments. It’s about time someone tried to put the Super back into Weston so visitors & residents can have something to smile about.

shane burney
I agree weston is a bit of a dump.The locals create a fuss about the new tropicana which will make the resort great.In my view the shops are tired looking the streets are filthy. Crime at night is also a growing problem. i am just thankfull i dont live there anymore.

john roberts
the town has stayed the same but the world has moved on if you modernise dont get glitze, give it a country feel. if you can afford it