Seafront hotel owner claims caravans ruining views of Weymouth Bay (From Dorset Echo)
When news happens get involved. Send your pictures, views and video to us by text and email
Seafront hotel owner claims caravans ruining views of Weymouth Bay
12:00pm Saturday 9th June 2012 in News
By Rachel Stretton
Dave Knight of the Leam Hotel in the widow of the hotel lounge with the view of the caravans
A HOTEL owner claims caravans that look ‘like public toilets’ are ruining his guests’ view of the seafront.
David Knight, owner of the Leam Hotel, said his guests cannot see Weymouth Bay from the lounge area of his property after the caravans appeared on the Esplanade.
He said: “It’s terrible. We pay extortionate business rates, being a seafront hotel.
“Why should we do that and then have that view taken away from us?”
Mr Knight said he has guests from as far away as Scotland who come to enjoy the view.
“They are paying to have the sea view, and some even bring their binoculars to see the boats, and then they arrive and it looks like there are public toilets on the Esplanade.”
He added: “There has been absolutely no consultation, and when guests ask me how long they will be there for, I have to say I have no idea.
“It puts people off coming down.”
The three caravans are part of the Haven Caravan Show, which has been on the seafront over the past week.
As reported in the Echo in April, the sponsorship deal between Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and Haven Littlesea Holiday Park is worth £20,000, which includes caravan shows on the seafront as well as branding of tourism leaflets and events brochures.
Dave Price, of the hotel and guesthouse leaseholders association, said: “I do not think it is appropriate having the caravans in that location.
“They do not look very nice and I’ve had general bad comments about them from guests myself.
“They tend to turn up around bank holidays and stay for a few days or a week, but the council never consults us.”
Weymouth and Portland Borough Council defended the decision to rent the land to Haven for the show.
Councillor Mike Goodman, chairman of the management committee, said: “Haven Caravan Show is currently using the borough council’s multi-purpose activities and entertainment site next to the Jubilee clock.
“The site has been used for numerous activities, including caravan promotion, for many years and is a very popular venue for events and activities throughout the year.
“Money generated from the site is invested back into the borough events programme, which further stimulates the economy, promotes Weymouth and Portland as a great destination to visit and provides support to community activities.”
But Mr Knight said the caravans were “dumped” without prior warning right in front of his hotel.
“We used to have the fairground on our doorstep, which we didn’t mind because it was a bit of a novelty.
“Then that was moved down the road and we got the caravans.”
He added: “This has been going on for a while now but it’s getting a bit too regular.
“It’s just another example that the council don’t care about tourists or hotel owners.
“We have had a bad time recently and this is just another kick in the chops.”
Council decision
A SPOKESWOMAN for Haven said: “We are told by the council where the caravans will be placed along the seafront.
“However, we are sorry if hoteliers feel it is spoiling their guests’ views.”
Comments(52)
I'mavoter
says...
12:39pm Sat 9 Jun 12
portland rebel
says...
1:17pm Sat 9 Jun 12
malkie
says...
3:05pm Sat 9 Jun 12
ohcetesrod
says...
3:14pm Sat 9 Jun 12
niceonecyril
says...
3:15pm Sat 9 Jun 12
I'mavoter
says...
5:47pm Sat 9 Jun 12
niceonecyril wrote:So you think they look nice there then?
Funfair blocks the view, no problems, happy with that, Mobile homes block the view, not happy with that, seriously ??????
weymouthfox
says...
6:28pm Sat 9 Jun 12
I'mavoter
says...
6:41pm Sat 9 Jun 12
weymouthfox wrote:Ha ha
Wait till the travellers show up in Olympic weeks and put their caravans next to Havens.
GMax
says...
9:20pm Sat 9 Jun 12
.
GMax
Genghis
says...
9:45pm Sat 9 Jun 12
GMax wrote:Yes, the dangers of being run down by a stationary caravan should never be underestimated.
Riding a bike is not allowed but parking a caravan is, hmmm.
.
GMax
Peter6
says...
4:29am Sun 10 Jun 12
Whats next? perhaps free parking for all the coaches that bring tourists to our town or dare I suggest the disabled motorist. Why can't Haven put their show vans on their numerous sites for people to view or take a giant step and have walk round viewing on their website? oh sorry I forgot, the council are getting £20.000 out of this. Food for thought indeed.
blobby96
says...
11:22am Sun 10 Jun 12
gameon
says...
11:38am Sun 10 Jun 12
aaranpresley
says...
12:32pm Sun 10 Jun 12
I am not a grockle
says...
1:41pm Sun 10 Jun 12
I presume the Council doesn't have to have planning permission to site these caravans in this location - they should as this clearly is affecting a number of businesses in that location.
I think the whole caravan thing on the seafront looks shabby and £20k doesn't really seem enough.
voiceof
says...
3:25pm Sun 10 Jun 12
Never Wrong
says...
4:20pm Sun 10 Jun 12
bollywood
says...
6:20pm Sun 10 Jun 12
ohcetesrod
says...
7:26pm Sun 10 Jun 12
With thousands of caravans in all their parks that big employment and money into this town.
Which makes allowing them to plonk a few on the Esplanade once in a while good business sense for this town.
malkie
says...
7:33pm Sun 10 Jun 12
Get a grip
says...
9:33pm Sun 10 Jun 12
I'mavoter
says...
9:35pm Sun 10 Jun 12
voiceof wrote:So you'd be quite happy to have them dumped outside your house then?
Yet another misery-guts. Haven do this every year! Get a life. Your guests can walk across the esplanade past the caravans and hey presto, there's the view.
If you give me your address I'll be quite happy to arrange it !
A classic case of 'NIMBY'
I'mavoter
says...
9:41pm Sun 10 Jun 12
Never Wrong wrote:So you'd be quite happy for them to be dumped outside your house then ?
Of all the views you can get in this world, are three caravans blocking a view from one window worth all this fuss in the echo or is the echo just a mouthpiece for all the moaning and miserable hotel and bed & breakfast owners in weymouth.
The hoteliers there pay the council more rent because the rooms have a sea view. So the council then takes money from Haven to block that sea view.
If it was YOUR place, how would you feel. Yet another case of 'NIMBY' !
I'mavoter
says...
10:05pm Sun 10 Jun 12
ohcetesrod wrote:Yes Haven have three sites in Weymouth with more than enough space to sell their caravans, without cluttering up our seafront. The council have put seats around by the clock, sit on any of them, and you cannot see the sea & bay, only those wretched caravans. If YOU paid the council £15 - £18 thousand a year rent, so that your guests can enjoy a sea view, would you like Haven (which is in competition with you in a sense) to plonk three caravans in front of your window ?
Haven own how many Holiday parks in this town?
With thousands of caravans in all their parks that big employment and money into this town.
Which makes allowing them to plonk a few on the Esplanade once in a while good business sense for this town.
Peter Baylis
says...
3:17am Mon 11 Jun 12
ohcetesrod
says...
7:44am Mon 11 Jun 12
I'mavoter wrote:I very much doubt Haven would dump the Caravans outside where I live.
Never Wrong wrote:So you'd be quite happy for them to be dumped outside your house then ?
Of all the views you can get in this world, are three caravans blocking a view from one window worth all this fuss in the echo or is the echo just a mouthpiece for all the moaning and miserable hotel and bed & breakfast owners in weymouth.
The hoteliers there pay the council more rent because the rooms have a sea view. So the council then takes money from Haven to block that sea view.
If it was YOUR place, how would you feel. Yet another case of 'NIMBY' !
First of all it would block the road, and secondly it hardly an advertising hot-spot!
What next. Hoteliers to complain about Carnival as it stops guests having a siesta?
JamesYoung
says...
9:52am Mon 11 Jun 12
Genghis wrote:Best comment by far - well done Genghis!
GMax wrote:Yes, the dangers of being run down by a stationary caravan should never be underestimated.
Riding a bike is not allowed but parking a caravan is, hmmm.
.
GMax
Get a grip
says...
4:42pm Mon 11 Jun 12
monkeydog
says...
4:54pm Mon 11 Jun 12
I'mavoter
says...
6:40pm Mon 11 Jun 12
ohcetesrod wrote:So you think they are an attractive addition to our seafront then 'ohcetesrod' ?
I'mavoter wrote:I very much doubt Haven would dump the Caravans outside where I live.
Never Wrong wrote:So you'd be quite happy for them to be dumped outside your house then ?
Of all the views you can get in this world, are three caravans blocking a view from one window worth all this fuss in the echo or is the echo just a mouthpiece for all the moaning and miserable hotel and bed & breakfast owners in weymouth.
The hoteliers there pay the council more rent because the rooms have a sea view. So the council then takes money from Haven to block that sea view.
If it was YOUR place, how would you feel. Yet another case of 'NIMBY' !
First of all it would block the road, and secondly it hardly an advertising hot-spot!
What next. Hoteliers to complain about Carnival as it stops guests having a siesta?
And it s Not just the hoteliers that are complaining about them, other residents are too. And the council have placed seats around the clock, for people to sit and look out on to the lovely bay. Sit on any of those and all you can see are those wretched caravans, no view at all. A bit more honesty would be better than sarcastic comments. Do you really think they do our seafront any favours there ?
ohcetesrod
says...
7:03pm Mon 11 Jun 12
I'mavoter wrote:Do our seafront or town.
ohcetesrod wrote:So you think they are an attractive addition to our seafront then 'ohcetesrod' ?
I'mavoter wrote:I very much doubt Haven would dump the Caravans outside where I live.
Never Wrong wrote:So you'd be quite happy for them to be dumped outside your house then ?
Of all the views you can get in this world, are three caravans blocking a view from one window worth all this fuss in the echo or is the echo just a mouthpiece for all the moaning and miserable hotel and bed & breakfast owners in weymouth.
The hoteliers there pay the council more rent because the rooms have a sea view. So the council then takes money from Haven to block that sea view.
If it was YOUR place, how would you feel. Yet another case of 'NIMBY' !
First of all it would block the road, and secondly it hardly an advertising hot-spot!
What next. Hoteliers to complain about Carnival as it stops guests having a siesta?
And it s Not just the hoteliers that are complaining about them, other residents are too. And the council have placed seats around the clock, for people to sit and look out on to the lovely bay. Sit on any of those and all you can see are those wretched caravans, no view at all. A bit more honesty would be better than sarcastic comments. Do you really think they do our seafront any favours there ?
The town probably yes.
And I am sure this is not the first year they have been there, so why not so much of an issue then.
Oh I know why, too many miserable gits have nothing better to do these days than moan.
not too distant
says...
7:42pm Mon 11 Jun 12
voiceof
says...
8:06pm Mon 11 Jun 12
I'mavoter wrote:Yes it wouldn't bother me in the slightest! No NIMBY here whatsoever!
voiceof wrote:So you'd be quite happy to have them dumped outside your house then?
Yet another misery-guts. Haven do this every year! Get a life. Your guests can walk across the esplanade past the caravans and hey presto, there's the view.
If you give me your address I'll be quite happy to arrange it !
A classic case of 'NIMBY'
AndyCooke
says...
8:19pm Mon 11 Jun 12
I'mavoter
says...
8:24pm Mon 11 Jun 12
voiceof wrote:Yeh right.
I'mavoter wrote:Yes it wouldn't bother me in the slightest! No NIMBY here whatsoever!
voiceof wrote:So you'd be quite happy to have them dumped outside your house then?
Yet another misery-guts. Haven do this every year! Get a life. Your guests can walk across the esplanade past the caravans and hey presto, there's the view.
If you give me your address I'll be quite happy to arrange it !
A classic case of 'NIMBY'
ohcetesrod
says...
8:30pm Mon 11 Jun 12
not too distant wrote:Naff back street! ha ha!
Some bloke who lives in a naff back street is on here telling a hotelier to suck eggs! There was a time when people would support each others causes.. Not because they believed in them as such, but because people need to work together or be trampled by government. There will come a day when each of us are against it, and we'll look around to find NOBODY'S got our backs. Shame on you all.
Maybe that's because of the greed of estate agents and their customers doubling the price of the housing market ten years ago!
As with all things, you have your view, I have mine.
I'mavoter
says...
8:33pm Mon 11 Jun 12
AndyCooke wrote:Oh at last, a voice of reason and not sarcasm. As I said earlier, the council take £15-£18 thousand a year rent from these hoteliers, extra for those that offer their guests a sea/bay view, the council then take money from Haven to block that sea view. Fair you think ? Double standards ?
He does have a point many guests particularly elderly like this hotel because of it's double fronted sea view lounge. It's quite easy to see why they would be upset to have their view spoilt. Having said that £20k is a significant sum that helps with the towns marketing budget. Difficult choice for WPBC to be fair but have to admit I do think they're a bit of an eyesore ...
I'mavoter
says...
8:37pm Mon 11 Jun 12
ohcetesrod wrote:I shall remind you of that remark ohcetesrod, next time I see you moan about anything on here !
I'mavoter wrote:Do our seafront or town.
ohcetesrod wrote:So you think they are an attractive addition to our seafront then 'ohcetesrod' ?
I'mavoter wrote:I very much doubt Haven would dump the Caravans outside where I live.
Never Wrong wrote:So you'd be quite happy for them to be dumped outside your house then ?
Of all the views you can get in this world, are three caravans blocking a view from one window worth all this fuss in the echo or is the echo just a mouthpiece for all the moaning and miserable hotel and bed & breakfast owners in weymouth.
The hoteliers there pay the council more rent because the rooms have a sea view. So the council then takes money from Haven to block that sea view.
If it was YOUR place, how would you feel. Yet another case of 'NIMBY' !
First of all it would block the road, and secondly it hardly an advertising hot-spot!
What next. Hoteliers to complain about Carnival as it stops guests having a siesta?
And it s Not just the hoteliers that are complaining about them, other residents are too. And the council have placed seats around the clock, for people to sit and look out on to the lovely bay. Sit on any of those and all you can see are those wretched caravans, no view at all. A bit more honesty would be better than sarcastic comments. Do you really think they do our seafront any favours there ?
The town probably yes.
And I am sure this is not the first year they have been there, so why not so much of an issue then.
Oh I know why, too many miserable gits have nothing better to do these days than moan.
ETV
says...
9:04pm Mon 11 Jun 12
PS. Can I offer a bid of £20k to place a tarpaulin over the mobile homes? Sure Haven wouldn't mind the view of the mobile homes being blocked ;-)
EtaoinShrdlu
says...
3:03am Tue 12 Jun 12
monkeydog
says...
12:37pm Tue 12 Jun 12
EtaoinShrdlu wrote:An offensive and stupid comment, if only for the approval of Jeremy Clarkson.
The next brilliant plan the council will probably come up with is to house travellers (didicoys) in these eyesores. Then there WILL be trouble, dismantled cars, bonfires melting cables "found" on building sites, 11-year-olds getting married . . . Jeremy Clarkson is right: caravans of any sort shoud be destroyed.
Hrw-Amen
says...
9:24pm Tue 12 Jun 12
Also £20,000 does seem rather a cheap price to pay for the right to put them there. Still I guess it is low maintenance and now the council have the £20,000 they can afford to put the Pineapples back in place with no excuse saying they don't know where the money is coming from!
Babsarella66
says...
12:03pm Wed 13 Jun 12
I personally think the hoteliers would be perfectly justified in deducting a percentage of that £15-18 grand for the loss of views that you are being charged extra for.
As for telling guests to walk out of the hotel, to the other side of the road, to see the view, that kind of defeats the object of paying extra for the sea view in a hotel I would think.
Guests like to sit in the dining room and admire the view, not a bunch of caravans. I would be livid if I paid extra for a sea view and all I could see were those caravans.
This council needs to sort their act out, listen to the people and maybe learn a thing or two. Out the caravans in Lodmoor carpark out of the way.
jmc1
says...
2:34pm Wed 13 Jun 12
jmc1
says...
2:37pm Wed 13 Jun 12
Genghis
says...
3:40pm Wed 13 Jun 12
Babsarella66
says...
5:06pm Wed 13 Jun 12
The prices will reflect the view, regardless of being in a bedroom or a dining room( with a bay window overlooking the sea.
If guests were not particularly bothered about views they would book into somewhere like Carlton rd North not a prime location such as the seafront.
If I were to hire a car ,paid for a BMW and was left with a fiat seicento I would not be happy, ( actually i love them but that's besides the point,lol)yes it gets you from A-B but I would not be getting what I paid for or was expecting.
Guests booking/paying for a seafront hotel with what one would consider prime views they do not want a view of a bunch of cruddy caravans that look like public toilets.
The council should be striving to help hoteliers and hoteliers not taking the money from their hands then ripping them off by robbing them of their advertised views.
Babsarella66
says...
5:11pm Wed 13 Jun 12
Hoteliers and guests are what I should've typed and the rest I will leave you to decypher sorry.
jmc1
says...
8:28pm Wed 13 Jun 12
Babsarella66 wrote:You said,the prices will reflect the view regardless whether they are in the bedroom or dining room, I could be wrong,but surely there are rooms at the back of the hotel, that are cheaper than the front.
Sorry about the typos, typing on my iPad and there's no way of editing mistakes but I hope you get my gist!
Hoteliers and guests are what I should've typed and the rest I will leave you to decypher sorry.
Sent from my I Pad with hopefully no mistakes.
Why can you not edit with an iPad ?????
Babsarella66
says...
8:46am Thu 14 Jun 12
Oh yes and another contributory factor to my errors was, I was also typing quickly and a client walked into reception so I didn't have a chance to check before I sent. Anyway back to my point.
I stick to my views that these caravans should not be parked in front of a hotel that pays extra to the council due to its location and sea views. I wouldn't like it as most others wouldn't. Why anyone other than the council or other persons who benefit from the decision to allow the caravans to park there, would defend this whole situation is beyond me.
Regardless of if a guest is in the front or back rooms the hotelier has to pay more to the council due to its location therefore this shouldn't make any difference.
The fact is caravans are obscurring the hotels views, which primarily is what the hotelier is paying extra for.
I hope the council see sense and use the spot for something a little easier on the eyes and also something that compliments the views for hoteliers,visitors and locals alike. We should be working to keep everyone happy. It's not that hard for goodness sake.
davescorpio0
says...
9:15am Thu 14 Jun 12
All those tacky goods are readily available in all the other town centre shops and they really need the business.
Never Wrong says...
12:24pm Sat 9 Jun 12
Maybe his guests need to get off there backsides and cross the road to see the view of the seafront.