Re(5): Pier Hotel Posted on September 2, 2012 at 05:43:25 AM by Reynard
Having visted and lived in Southwold for many years, I can see not benefit in any progress that has (suposedly been made).
We've already lost many fine High Street shops and now have a massive collection of clothing outlets: Yes I do object to being asked to pay £18 for a pair of socks! Tesco's have achieved little only to sell their higher priced and more profitble wares, they were specifically asked NOT to purvey newspapers and magazines on opening, yet they've ignored that request and have an entire rack of useless and rather pathetic mgazines, much to the detriment of several long established newsagents within our High Street. W. H Smiths albeit an old and recogonised establishment, seem to have shelves and shelves of tack and nothing really exciting, Costa Coffee will sell what else other than coffee, when their are currently dozens of establishments all trying to make a living from the same. Will their cups of coffee really tempt our appetites and budget? I don't think so!
We've already lost one huge and decent ironmonghers, currently now the Waveney Tourist and Misinformation Office.
Fortunately, some of the more important stores still continue to struggle and provide a decent service to our residents, namely the Pet Shop, Mumfords, Purdeys, and our two chemists who try and maintain an authentic and more realistic character respective to our lovely town. Please excuse me if I've omitted others, no disrespect to them.
So much has been lost from our shops over the last twenty years and change is not always for the better, I would NOT like to see the enchantment of Southwold be demised through the lust of commercial development, purely for gain and profit.
If you want candy floss, huge bags of chips and burgers and dozens of tacky shops then go to somewhere like Clacton or Yarmouth. Southwold still yields a much better character, though for how much longer? Are WE going to stand-by and allow this to happen? No way, so say you all.
Even our cherished pubs have gradually become fish and chip shops. I recently took a friend into the Sole Bay Inn on a Saturday lunchtime, hoping to enjoy a couple of decent glasses of ale, inside the pub was a stench of fish, chips and vinegar, there was nowhere to sit as all the tables were full of people stuffing their faces, young irritating children were running all around the bar and a large screen television was blaring-out football, all very disagreeable!
I found sanctuary in the nearby lighthouse and had a most informative and very enlightening tour by an informed and rather humourous and most knowledgeable tour guide.
People should realise that Southwold, still has much magic - a working harbour, a lifeboat station, a lighthouse, a decent pier and a safe and sandy beach. How many towns would give both their arms and legs for this!!
Lets not make it change just for unwarranted development and change, purely for commercial greed and get rich quick merchants. Otherwise where else would you go to get so much enjoyment, beauty and charm alongside the sea, all in one town. Treasure and protect what we already have and lets not sucomb to trivial development plans and pipe-dreams of entrepreneurs and others who have little interest in this towns heritage and tremendous beauty!!
What did make me smile was the reference to 'Tibby's Triange' which is now called Beiruit. I walked through this pathetic complex and can totally relate to that comment. Personally it looks rather like WWII war-torn East London after a Luftwaffe Bombing Raid, again how did WE ALL as residents of Southwold allow this to happen? Totally disgraceful and before anyone living in that disaster comments, I have a close friend who lives there and he can't wait to be removed to somewhere more sensible and suitable.
Finally, Why do all our High Street clothes shops think that the residents of Southwold are totally loaded with wealth?