Holiday park could close as owners plan new homes
ANOTHER Brixham holiday park could close after its owners announced they plan to develop the site for housing.
Park Holidays UK, the owner of Riviera Bay, wants to turn the holiday village on Mudstone Lane into a mixed residential and employment development which could include a care home and 110 houses.
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It is understood 60 jobs could be created at the site.
The firm announced yesterday it plans to start a consultation process with a view to submitting a planning application in October.
It comes after a planning meeting to discuss plans for the Wall Park site was postponed after developers said they were revising proposals.
Matt Purdom, from Park Holidays UK, said the firm wanted to consult with the community about its proposals.
"Riviera Bay has a very special location and having had ongoing discussions with Torbay Council, both parties have concluded it is a site more suited to non-tourism redevelopment," he said.
"We are looking at proposals to bring forward an alternative use for this site which will improve environmental impact, provide housing, address ongoing concerns raised by the local community and sustain employment opportunities for Brixham."
Park Holidays UK owns both Riviera Bay and the nearby Landscove Holiday Parks in Brixham.
Planning permission was recently granted for Landscove Holiday Park to be expanded and upgraded to provide a more attractive tourist destination.
Mr Purdom said Landscove would benefit from a multimillion-pound investment over several years and would become the "premier holiday park destination in Brixham".
He said: "The redevelopment of Riviera Bay will also enable us to put in place improvements to the coastal path and local landscape.
"The Landscove redevelopment will create new tourism jobs, replacing and adding to those displaced from Riviera while the redevelopment of Riviera will bring new employment opportunities to the local area."
The proposals will pull the building line back from the cliff edge, open up the site with six acres of new open space, improve the visibility and reinstate the coastal path.
Councillors in the port said they would wait for more advanced plans before commenting. Andrew Baldrey, the recently elected Lib Dem councillor for St Marys with Summercombe ward, said: "I've heard about the plans but I need more information before I can comment."
Mike Morey, the independent councillor for Berry Head with Furzeham, said: "I don't want to make any comment regarding these plans but in general terms there is a fear in Brixham that tourism facilities in the town are slowly being eroded."
Town council clerk Ki Barnes said the developers had agreed to meet with the town council, the Torbay councillors representing Brixham as well as the community partnership to discuss the project.
She said: "At the moment it is only an outline proposal. There is nothing concrete and we need to know more.
"We need to retain some of our holiday parks. It is a wonderful holiday location which is ideal for tourism."
The Wall Park development was due to be discussed at a special planning meeting on September 27 but it is now hoped for the proposals to be heard at a development control committee on November 1.
Developers Northern Trust originally proposed 231 homes, 14 holiday chalets, a care home, two bat barns and use of land for caravanning and camping on the Wall Park site.
A spokesman for said: "Through consultation with the key stakeholders, Northern Trust has been able to make minor amendments to the masterplan which will provide greater benefit and enhancement to the landscape and ecology of the Berry Head peninsula, a newsletter will be issued to the residents of Brixham updating them on the changes to the scheme."
A Torbay Council spokesman said consideration of the application was still pending, adding: "The officer report relating to this application has not yet been prepared. The earliest date the application could be considered is October 4, but is dependent on the receipt of information on various matters which are still outstanding."
Mr Morey said: "It does appear the developers are taking on board the comments of Brixham's residents, but we will have to wait and see what comes forward in the new application."
Proposals are being drawn up for the Riviera Bay site and will be subject to public consultation in the autumn in advance of a planning application being submitted.
Anyone interested in the plans can e-mail rivierabayconsultation @gmail.com.
17 Comments
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by Chris Moore, Wolverhampton
Wednesday, February 23 2011, 8:06PM
“Over 120 signatures so far, we are trying to get as many as possible.
http://www.gopetition.com/petition/39667.html”
by steve, Bournemouth
Tuesday, February 15 2011, 7:18PM
“I am saddened by the news of the potential redevelopment of St Marys Bay/Riviera Bay camp site. I have visited the site every year since 1978 and stayed at the camp site many times, I really appreciate the special area that the camp occupies and the charm of Brixham and the whole Torbay area.
I would love to hear from anyone who has pictures or video of the site prior to Park Holidays taking over from Pontins. I have booked up to visit the site twice already this year and am tempted for a third!
If I can be of any help with lobbying local government etc. then please contact me”
by Oscar, Brixham
Monday, October 18 2010, 8:03PM
“I'm afraid Chris hit the nail on the head, unaffordable housing, these are going to be luxury houses that are meant for people who have got money. All they have seen is £ signs but they want to cash in on this beautiful area. They have treated the residents like idiots thinking that there are no intelligent people living here, come on, do they think we were not going to want to see elevated drawings? Obviously not providing these means they are trying to hide something. I was told that one of the meetings that this housing development would enhance the area, what a load of poppycock.”
by Chris Moore, Wolverhampton
Friday, September 10 2010, 7:57PM
“This is such sad news and so frustrating. Riviera Bay is my favourite holiday destination, it's location is superb and it has amazing unrivalled sea views. The staff there work really hard to provide a good holiday experience, and the entertainment is great. I really don't want to see it become housing. As holiday parks become more scarce, do we really need more unaffordable housing? Wall Park is yet to be built on, they are still building houses on the old Dolphin site, some unsold still, and I heard on the news this morning, there's a load more houses being built in Paignton. Brixham needs great holiday places like Riviera Bay to continue as a tourist destination. I noticed on my recent visit to Brixham this week that more shops are being boarded up. This is so sad, but I guess if the locals don't want people like me (from the Midlands) holidaying at places like Riv Bay, then more of this will happen.
This is not about dwindling sales as Riviera Bay was virtually fully booked up this week, it's about houses being sold for astronomical amounts to the rich. I really hope the local residents of Brixham and the councillors vetoe this idea. No disrespect to Landscove also, but it isn't in the same class as Riviera Bay, and if that does become the premier destination, there will be a major road issue. We visited there yesterday, and there was a queue down the country lane to enter the site, and cars and an Argos van mounting the pavements in the nearby street (Gillard Road?) to get past each other. There is no way Landscove will cope in that capacity with the extra holidaymakers. I really hope Park Holidays see sense on this. It would be a travesty to close this holiday place.”
by Ozzy, South Australia
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 9:07PM
“MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!!! Need to find out who is taking back-handers in the local council. Happens over in Oz a lot!”
by jarred off, goodrington
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 10:24AM
“It is so easy to make a camp look non-viable to get it sold, Lyme-bay closed last year because of Poor-Bookings ? and now the site is derelict waiting for Tesco to build while Seaton has had the heart ripped out of its economy. The camp was very popular but customers were deliberately turned away when there was room for them to make the figures bad enough to sell out to the mammon' store who will shut all the small shops down. Quality camps will always pay their way,simple give the public what they want.NOT MORE B***** HOUSES”
by Julian, Torquay
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 9:01AM
“I used to work at said site as a refuse collector (emptying the bins around the site), but luckily had the foresaw the places demise and was very lucky in gaining full time employment in McDonalds. I haven't looked back since: I suggest others don't either - what's that saying again; don't look a gift horse in the mouth or something.”
by glenys, Brixham
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 8:15AM
“Do not insult my intelligence J.T. of Brixham I am full aware that THE BILLY BUTLIN is well and truly deceased. The point i was trying to make was the No.17 bus drops people off at WALL PARK ROAD who then make their way to Landscove also people get on and off at Riviera Bay, as I said these buses are all fully booked up in the summer and most times, standing room only. The last two letters are quite right, if you have bothered to read them. Sharkham is a perfect example of houses not selling. Also take a look at Rightmove.Co.Uk. and see the number of properties for sale here in Brixham. Then decide if we need anymore. What we do need is Tourism as all seaside Towns otherwise as aforesaid, we will have boarded up shops everywhere.......Oh! just get real J.T.”
by michelle barrow, st helens
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 10:46PM
“I go to Riviera Bay three times a year, I am an educated person working for the local education authority from the North West and do not drink ten pints of beer and lower the tone of the place. I have been going since 83. Why because of my love of the area and the location of the holiday park. It took us 45 minutes by car to get to Churston station when down there in August and we have been mixed up in the morning rush hour so what do they want to do build more houses when half of Sharkham point is lying empty. Riviera Bay is not a struggling holiday park and brings valuable tourism to Brixham. I don't want to stay in failng B&B'S. What annoys me is Park holidays has consistently denied this and having booked for next year already they are still denying it brushing it off as an old rumour. Don't do it park holidays.”
by Mobyrik, Brixham
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 5:22PM
“Billy, All I am saying is yes, if a business is failing then close it. Understood. But houses popping up everywhere with no infrastructure to support it is asking for trouble.
Sharkham Village being a prime example of this scenario.”