The Cosy Nook Cafe Port Erin

[Andy Onchan]

35 minutes ago, Non-Believer said:

What's proposed at PE is down at sea level with the headland on the right restricting any views other than the beach and the breakwater. Not the same appeal somehow?

If you or I wanted to build something like that with private capital it wouldn't see the light of day.

If the elevation proportions in the photo are to be believed then it would stand very much higher than existing buildings on the same ground level.

[Declan]

 

6 minutes ago, Andy Onchan said:

If the elevation proportions in the photo are to be believed then it would stand very much higher than existing buildings on the same ground level.

I don't think that's an issue, although there's a row cottages nearby there are also three or four storey buildings along there. In any case this is a against a cliff face so won't block or dominate anyone's view.

[Max Power]

All the lovely art deco cafes on the south coast of England were once old fisherman's cottages, now they are listed buildings. I love some of the old buildings around the island but we tend to preserve some of them at the expense of reason. If the Cosy Nook is proven to be worthy of saving, why not build the proposed cafe at the other end of the promenade, near the derelict Marine Biological Station. It needs tidying up and would benefit that area immensely.

[TheTeapot]

7 minutes ago, Max Power said:

All the lovely art deco cafes on the south coast of England were once old fisherman's cottages, now they are listed buildings. I love some of the old buildings around the island but we tend to preserve some of them at the expense of reason. If the Cosy Nook is proven to be worthy of saving, why not build the proposed cafe at the other end of the promenade, near the derelict Marine Biological Station. It needs tidying up and would benefit that area immensely.

The commissioners objected to an ambitious but smart looking proposal for that site a couple of years ago on account of it being too big. I think planning has been subsequently granted permission for a different, and less interesting proposal now.

[Roger Mexico]

The Commissioners having voted to demolish it before they got planning permission for any sort of replacement, have now been stymied by the building being protected. (Similarly with the Traf).

Whatever you think of these particular buildings, this can only be for the good as it prevents developers pushing through what they want by demolition before any protection can be considered.  this bad enough when it's a commercial developer, but even worse when it's a local authority, especially one that has gone beyond its normal term of office.

[Non-Believer]

Maybe related to the fact that both Messrs Skelly and Watterson have been making public noises about it in the last 7 days? Skelly claimed, IIRC, that the proposed replacement was "neither cosy nor a nook"? Watterson said he was writing to Boot on the matter.

But will this order compel PEC to upkeep the building to an acceptable standard or will it just be allowed to slide to the point of no return like so many others? Which just delays matters.

Edited December 15, 2020 by Non-Believer
Extra bit

[Barlow]

Most of upper Port Erin Promenade was once a pleasantly proportioned and iconic example of Victorian architecture. It is now a jumbled mass of the grotesque and bad taste.

The Cosy Nook may as well go the same way.

[Mr Helmut Fromage]

The Islands obsession with preserving outdated Victoriana and sub standard offerings is bewildering.

Did all the Cosy Nook supporters lobby to save the old Sound Cafe and boycott the shiny new updated and upgraded one that replaced it ?

[TheTeapot]

13 minutes ago, Non-Believer said:

 

But will this order compel PEC to upkeep the building to an acceptable standard or will it just be allowed to slide to the point of no return like so many others? Which just delays matters.

PEC are bit in stasis at the moment, they were supposed to have an election this year, but covid. A few of them know they'll probably not get back in when the election is eventually held.

[Roger Mexico]

23 minutes ago, Mr Helmut Fromage said:

Did all the Cosy Nook supporters lobby to save the old Sound Cafe and boycott the shiny new updated and upgraded one that replaced it ?

There's actually several different issues here.  The first is the heritage one because the current building does fit in with the other buildings alongside it.  And there's also the fact that visitors (and locals) do indeed find it charming, so there's a tourism aspect.  The outsize replacement proposed may be less popular.  It's different from the Sound where the new cafe was landscaped into its surroundings.

But there's also the question of whether the Commissioners should be funding such a large construction project which is unlikely to make its money back, especially given that this has normally been a seasonal site.  And (unlike the Sound) Port Erin already has a lot of cafes, so it's not like it's providing an essential service.  Cafe owners may also feel this will end up being public subsidy of competition.

[Happier diner]

39 minutes ago, Mr Helmut Fromage said:

The Islands obsession with preserving outdated Victoriana and sub standard offerings is bewildering.

Did all the Cosy Nook supporters lobby to save the old Sound Cafe and boycott the shiny new updated and upgraded one that replaced it ?

Absolutely. It just a crappy old building with nothing going for it at all. For gods sake get it knocked down and build something decent. Heritage my arse, it's just a pile of old crap.

[SleepyJoe]

2 minutes ago, Roger Mexico said:

There's actually several different issues here.  The first is the heritage one because the current building does fit in with the other buildings alongside it.  And there's also the fact that visitors (and locals) do indeed find it charming, so there's a tourism aspect.  The outsize replacement proposed may be less popular.  It's different from the Sound where the new cafe was landscaped into its surroundings.

But there's also the question of whether the Commissioners should be funding such a large construction project which is unlikely to make its money back, especially given that this has normally been a seasonal site.  And (unlike the Sound) Port Erin already has a lot of cafes, so it's not like it's providing an essential service.  Cafe owners may also feel this will end up being public subsidy of competition.

The damage to existing hospitality businesses in PE by the Commissioners proposed development would be significant

Can ratepayers call for the current Commissioners to be dissolved?

[quilp]

Just now, SleepyJoe said:

The damage to existing hospitality businesses in PE by the Commissioners proposed development would be significant

How so, SleepyJoe..? 

Just now, SleepyJoe said:

Can ratepayers call for the current Commissioners to be dissolved?

No. 

[SleepyJoe]

Just now, Happier diner said:

Absolutely. It just a crappy old building with nothing going for it at all. For gods sake get it knocked down and build something decent. Heritage my arse, it's just a pile of old crap.

Given that the interior isn't claimed to be of interest, the existing structure could be gutted and the extension to the front replaced by a stylish glass roofed addition

[SleepyJoe]

Just now, quilp said:

How so, SleepyJoe..? 

No. 

Their proposed new building is enormous in comparison to what currently is & presumably will be a sizable catering facility