It was a nice spring morning when Indy and myself decided to go to the beach. When we got there I took Indy to see the outside of the Tropicana because normally it is locked up. While walking up the beach I couldn't believe the side gate was wide open so we just walked up and peered in. There was no one in there. So quick as you like the cameras came out and the snapping began.
While we wandered round I regaled Indy with the story's of the many time I had been there as a child. I loved the 2 giant pineapples which contain water slides and a massive queue to get on them. It was my first ever time experiencing a wave machine which as a kid would throw you around like being in a washing machine. They also had an Ice rink that had no ice, it was a strange wax and was very hard to skate on.
On our way out a man drove in on an electric bin cart. He took no notice of use and drove in to the building. We went over to have a chat with him. He told us how disgusted he was that the council was using it as a basic rubbish tip, and I totally agree with him.
Now the blurb....
The site was first developed as a 950 square metres (10,200 sq ft) swimming pool in 1937 and included an art deco diving board. At the time it had the highest diving board and was the largest open air swimming pool in Europe. When it was opened it was simply known as "The Pool" becomining branded as Tropicana in 1983. The reinforced concrete diving board was demolished in 1982 and was refurbished.
In 2000 the Tropicana closed, and developer Mace Estates was selected to work on a new project for the site. Although the Council promised that the Tropicana would be open in 2004, the Mace plans were rejected and the company bowed out. In 2005 Henry Boot was chosen as the developer, but the recession meant they pulled out.
Then early in 2011 developer Richard Nightingale pulled out over a dispute with the Council over his plans.
On 23 August 2011, the Local Authority announced it was giving developers one last chance to rebuild the old complex which has now been shut for 11 years.
But it was announced on 28 November 2011 that a working group has made a recommendation to North Somerset Council to demolish the Tropicana. The cross-party Tropicana Working Group voted by six votes to three in favour of knocking it down. It will cost the council £250,000 to demolish the site, rather than leave it hanging on. It is expected that Councillors will decide the site's fate on 6 January 2012. The decision is to demolish it.
While we wandered round I regaled Indy with the story's of the many time I had been there as a child. I loved the 2 giant pineapples which contain water slides and a massive queue to get on them. It was my first ever time experiencing a wave machine which as a kid would throw you around like being in a washing machine. They also had an Ice rink that had no ice, it was a strange wax and was very hard to skate on.
On our way out a man drove in on an electric bin cart. He took no notice of use and drove in to the building. We went over to have a chat with him. He told us how disgusted he was that the council was using it as a basic rubbish tip, and I totally agree with him.
Now the blurb....
The site was first developed as a 950 square metres (10,200 sq ft) swimming pool in 1937 and included an art deco diving board. At the time it had the highest diving board and was the largest open air swimming pool in Europe. When it was opened it was simply known as "The Pool" becomining branded as Tropicana in 1983. The reinforced concrete diving board was demolished in 1982 and was refurbished.
In 2000 the Tropicana closed, and developer Mace Estates was selected to work on a new project for the site. Although the Council promised that the Tropicana would be open in 2004, the Mace plans were rejected and the company bowed out. In 2005 Henry Boot was chosen as the developer, but the recession meant they pulled out.
Then early in 2011 developer Richard Nightingale pulled out over a dispute with the Council over his plans.
On 23 August 2011, the Local Authority announced it was giving developers one last chance to rebuild the old complex which has now been shut for 11 years.
But it was announced on 28 November 2011 that a working group has made a recommendation to North Somerset Council to demolish the Tropicana. The cross-party Tropicana Working Group voted by six votes to three in favour of knocking it down. It will cost the council £250,000 to demolish the site, rather than leave it hanging on. It is expected that Councillors will decide the site's fate on 6 January 2012. The decision is to demolish it.
