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Posted by Anonymous to swanage view
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Royston Vasey anyone?!
I've been living in Swanage since July with my family. Everyone thought I was a grockle until November, always getting looks in shops. Hearing comments about grockles and wishing them gone from locals is always unsettling, I would imagine even more so if you are one. Now settled I'm fed up with hearing moans about how dead the town is in winter. It's a myth, I know because I see many walkers and climbers and daytrippers all the time, I used to be one, weekends are always buzzing. I say get over yourselves, and sell the town in winter. Shutting shops for a couple of months, whats that all about? Grockles are your livelihood, be nice to them.
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Posted by Anonymous to swanage view at 2/22/2005 08:00:31 PM
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Posted by Anonymous to swanage view
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15 comments:
Grockles are our livelyhood? not on your Nelly mate! At the last count, we had 2000 holiday homes here, while also having nowhere for our own young people to live.
Something wrong here?
What sheer arrogance! that makes grockles think that we have to put up with them for our living.
They come here to holiday homes, bring everything with them, Bung up the town, bring no employment at all, just over populate the little town and our parking places.
Dancing Ledge
Is that fair? Yes, it's a problem if houses lie empty (so good if they're rented out or let). But second homers ARE paying 90% of Council Tax, for services they may not be using. And surely they bring masses of employment? There must be many businesses -bars, restaurants and shops - that are very glad of their trade. Then of course, we don't OWN the place -or do you always stay in Swanage and never go and be a grockle in someone else's town or country? Perhaps it's swings and roundabouts. (Out of interest, where did the 2000 holiday homes figure come from?).
One report I read in the local paper, the other came from the town hall some time ago. But you do not have to look far. My street has many holiday homes. Look yourself, take a tour round Swanage.
It is this statement that we need grockles. As though they are doing us a favour by coming here. That is supreme arrogance. in your dreams!
And, they take our young peoples housing stock away, no ifs or buts, fact. No objection to holiday makers in Hotels, Come! enjoy our wonderful area, and welcome...But holiday homes, empty half the year?
As to paying 90 tax? why not double the tax, to help keep our beautiful countryside unspoiled?
Dancing Ledge
I always remember the remark that an old Dorset, (Swanage) mate said when the grockles took the mickey out of his accent.
His reply was this "if you want to find a bloody fool in the countryside? then you have to bring one with you"
Dancing Ledge.
Ok I'm scared now and wish I hadn't started this debate. But, I came from Poole to live here because I was priced out of that area. I agree totally that there should be more housing for young people, reductions in holiday homes and second home owners e.t.c. I would love to have a parking place I didnt have to walk a mile to in the summer. I would like a Tesco's to shop in, I would like a job for myself and my wife locally. I'm just saying it's a seaside town, the grockles are here, all the time, you either accept that, or close the roads?!
That is an odd statement. Priced out of Pool? Properties are far more expensive here than anywhere in Poole.
One of the worst things about those that come to enjoy our beautiful countryside, is this; as soon as the get here, they want to change it to be simlar to where they came from.
This place has one great asset; the locals leave it alone, and are custodians of the Isle of Purbeck.
Dancing Ledge
I'm afraid you are wrong there if you take into account having a child and wanting a better standard of living for yourself and your family, good schools and less crime. Prices are very comparable. Listen, you are justifying my original point, it was only a comment but I am now thinking I may be dragged off by a mob to be lynched
Lynched in Swanage. Stone me,I should hope not... Though, like so many local folk...we all breath a collective sigh of relief on the grockles departure in the Autumn.
Yippee. But to assert that we need them to keep going? Complete rubbish.
Dancing Ledge.
This is turning into a "if you know a better hole, go to it!" discussion. Every seaside town attracts tourists and new residents. If I could find one that did not I'd move there and call my house oxymoron.
Why not complain that the sea is the wrong colour and the grass is green. Don't suppose the ancient Brits were too happy when they found J Caesar and army having a beach party in 55bc. The inhabitants of Brighton probably thought the prince regent was a vulgar incomer when he built the Brighton Pavilion, although, come to think of it, they had a point there.
Don’t be intimidated Royston Vasey original poster. You are in fact quite correct, (except about Tesco, as a Waitrose would suit better). We do get tourists all year around, much more than before. Tourists were never previously courted off season because everyone made so much money in 6 months they didn’t need to. Remember when all the fish and chip shops closed for the Winter? The tourists (with some exceptions) generally get a really shabby reception and bad deal in my opinion. It’s about time Swanage learned something about market orientation. People just don’t notice how bad things are. The Grand Hotel, for example, closed this year for Christmas. Take the Consumer’s Association, “Which?” guide books:
Swanage does not get a main listing for a restaurant, no hotel in the “Good Hotel Guide”, not a single bed and breakfast is mentioned in the Town, not even an entry in the “Good Pub Guide”! It is that bad.
With a little bit of goodwill, thought and cooperation the Town folk could get together to welcome lesser numbers of more sophisticated visitors to the benefit of all concerned. Tourism is very very important.
Where are the quality eateries? Seems to me, that most are for "Quick meals"
Dancing Ledge
I have to agree with Nick Storer and his comments about courting visitors all through the year. The people of swanage need to decide what they would like this town to be in the future.
It has so much to offer, but often those who live here fail to notice the attributes of the town and the surrounding area - we see it every day!
If the towns people know what they want and have a vision and a collective will to achieve that vision - Lets move the debate onto that.
Otherwise sit back and let someone enforce change onto you and moan about how things aren't as good as they were 10 years ago!
My complaint aganst the grockles is this, they come to stay in holiday homes, they bring everything with them , they mostly look after their own meals.
In fact they bring in nothing of amy import,They take away our youngsters housing stock.
IT is the day trippers that spend, certainly not the holiday homes, and they are in the majority here.
They used to stay in hotels....not now..it is all self catering.
Dancing Ledge
I'm not understanding something here...
Why would a young person embarking on a career look to stay in Swanage? What would they do? There are few businesses in swanage that operate all year round? Most offer seasonal work at best.
The second homers have made an investment in this area and visit all year round. They want to spend their money in swanage, they want to support local businesses, they have greater spending power than day trippers who spend money on coffee, ice cream and Fish & Chips.
Stop offering mediocrety and offer what visitors and second homers want. They only bring stuff with them as they are not able to find what they want in the town.
Thank you to those supporting me in this matter. I love this town, I don't want to change things on a sweeping scale but things have to move on. If only for the youngsters of this town. Encouraging visitors with a bit more investment, all year round, will create more employment which is surely good for everyone.
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