Tropicana Regeneration

Today a few of us were fortunate enough to have been invited to a chat with the well respected designers at Hemingway Design about the future of the old Tropicana. As you may know, the pool has been filled in and we’re now in discussion about the next step for the venue after the phenomenal success of Dismaland last summer. Then, during December and January, Theatre Orchard, in collaboration with NSC, proved that part of the indoor venue makes for a great theatre space.

As residents, it’s really important that we have our say, so we’d like your ideas about what you’d like to see in WsM and then we’ll collate those responses to send to Hemingway Design.

The thinking is that it could be used as a venue to host many different projects, some permanent, some temporary. We’re really close to Bristol so we’re aware that WsM may pull in visitors from there and elsewhere in the West Country/further afield. This could be an exciting hub of culture and fun. Some ideas are:

* Festivals and music events
* Film and theatre space
* Funfair
* Skate park
* Exhibition and wedding venue
* Creative space for young people and start up business
* A social space
* An art space

It could actually be used as all or most of these things at different times of the year. There are no restrictions – ie it won’t be one thing all year round (though some aspects of it may well be permanent). It’s a good idea to take into consideration what already exists in the town and close by and to use this opportunity to offer residents and visitors alike something really excellent, something that uses this big space wisely and to maximum effect.

What do you think, locals? Any other ideas? And please – don’t forget to ask the kids too!

 

  • Photo by Keith Ramsey

4 thoughts on “Tropicana Regeneration

  • 10/03/2016 at 10:48
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    Turn it back into a swimming pool, with beach access. An all day pass so you can come and go as you please, this is what is lacking for tourists and locals alike. To bring in a greater revenue for Weston, a swimming experience is required and this venue is the best suited for it. It may not be cost affective but the knock on wealth it will bring will make it worth while.

    Reply
    • 10/03/2016 at 12:03
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      A street food/real ale market was a suggestion yesterday too

      Reply
  • 10/03/2016 at 12:53
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    I’d love to see the place as a fair-weather hub for all things cycling. (I would wouldn’t I!)

    Perhaps April to September, once or twice a month, on a Saturday or Sunday, we could have a pop-up bike maintenance stand set up by our brilliant local bike shops, Independent Bike Co, the Bicycle Chain, Somerset Bike Centre, not to do themselves out of business, but to get some of the bikes currently languishing in garages and spare rooms back on the streets.

    We could have ride training for those just starting to get out and about.
    A range of guided rides perhaps utilising some of the expertise in our cycling clubs, Weston Wheelers and Weston Chain Gang. Family rides, mass events, a Weston ‘Sportif’.
    Maybe the place could actually be a short-term bike hire facility, a tourist town should have bikes to use for visitors.

    A centre for information about local cycle lanes and routes. We are a pretty safe town to ride around, but with more riders out and about that would only improve.

    Reply

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