Here is our response to the Trop (WsM) Ltd press release
of January 23 2012:
North Somerset Council is pressing ahead with
arrangements to demolish the Tropicana in
Weston-super-Mare.
Council officers have met representatives of Trop (WsM) Ltd but
have still not received a business plan setting out a viable
development proposal.
Subsequent to that meeting, Trop (WsM) Ltd have issued a
statement to the media which suggests that their redevelopment
plans are built on a business model which depends on the council
handing over an area of land for car parking and also approving a
planning application by the Mead Group for a quite separate
development elsewhere in the town.
The group’s statement also suggests that the cost to the
taxpayer of their option is no different from the demolition
cost.
Cllr Tony Lake, executive member for property and asset
management said: “We made it very clear in our previous approaches
to the market that the council would, at the time, consider a
contribution equal to demolition costs towards a redevelopment on
the site, but that no further public subsidy would be
considered.
“It is clear from the Trop (WsM) Ltd’s statement that they are
asking for much more than that both in terms of additional land and
also a promise of a separate planning approval. North Somerset
Council will not be held to ransom on this matter, and to even
suggest an approach of this nature just reinforces everything the
council has been saying for months now – that the site’s
redevelopment is not viable.
“I’d also like to make it clear that it would be illegal for the
council to take a planning matter for one site into account when
considering another unrelated development.
“It therefore remains our intention to demolish the derelict
structure thereby clearing the way for new leisure development
proposals to come forward when the economy recovers.”
The council is currently carrying out work at the Tropicana site
to enable the demolition works to be carried out safely and in a
planned, controlled way. Subject to the completion of these
preparatory works, and all statutory consents being in place, the
council expects demolition to take place in the spring.
