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What To Do With The Summerland Site


TheTool

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  • 7 months later...

just an idea - I don't know if it works because I've no idea of the size of the site or the size that would be required - but how about a stadium for indoor sports etc. TBH I was thinking about the spectacuolar scramble races on TV at first, but then I realised that there were plenty of others that attract spectators such as basketball and so on. The idea is that it would really be little more than a shell - therefore reasonably cheap to build - the spectator seating could be removed or reduced depending on the requirements of the event - and it could even be used to contan a sizeable audience for concerts etc, so that big name acts could be afforded.

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Surely sports should be located at the NSC, whether its a snow dome, climbing wall, whatever. All facilities, technical and service staff on one site.

 

Same with the arts, cinemas, theate, concerts at the Villa Gaiety complex which will have a 300 approx performance space in the old arcade. That needs a 500 approx venue for groups, theatre in round, chamber concerts and a contemporary art gallery to finish off

 

So what about Summerland?

 

If we are to have a national Transport museum why not keep it out of town, make visitors and us locals travel, perhaps even by bus tram or train, make development happen sonewhere apart from Douglas

 

Shops, surely no. The promenade is enough of a nightmare without sending more vehicles along it.

 

As for a money making casino, we got one of those in the 1960's. It never worked execpt as a late night drinking facility. Whatever we were promised at the time

 

I'm afraid I can't give an answer!

 

May be a function facility. A big hangar with two or three floors and parking, an extrememly large large function room/performance space, several smaller function rooms, kitchens commercial in scale and operation, band practice and club and society rooms, maybe a small multiscreen. Somewhere for a party, dance, disco of 6, 10, 25, 50, 100 or up to 500, somewhere for conferences. A kids entertainment area for kids parties. A Derby Castle and Summerland for the 21st century

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I think it has been mentioned before but the site would be ideal for some kind of mixed use facility.

 

For sport we could have a couple of 5 a side pitches and some squash courts

 

Then a large bar/piazza area which could be used for new year parties and events such as the Manx Open darts.

 

A childrens play area

 

A cinema

 

and perhaps a nightclub in the basement.....

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I have to agree with Terry - a mixed use facility with all of the above and we can call it Summerland.

 

Things I don't want to see there are, apartments, offices, transport museum, conference rooms, TT museums and other non-entertaining/social/sports related facilities.

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Honestly I'd like to see something fun, something that younger people can do. Theres enough places to go drinking as it is but when it comes to activities on the Island its quite limited.

 

We have a cinema, swimming pool, sports centre, bowling alley. Slightly out of Douglas you've got Onchan Park, Laserblast, Paintballing. Moving further out of Douglas you've got your more outdoors kinda things, theres some small Quad biking place, Karting up in Jurby, venture centre, but there quite expensive and not very accessible.

 

Honestly I'd just like somewhere with a variety of things to do. Similar to what the old summerland offered. Maybe a kids play area, Videogame Arcade, Rollerskate Rink, restaurant, a venue for local bands etc.

 

No doubt we'll get another block of flats, or a carpark.

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What about a large biogas unit to provide power for the MEA and converted public transport, alongside a series of smaller astro pitches and a large park and ride scheme?

 

Then revisit the concept of rebuilding some of the tram bodies to use them as commuter shuttles instead of the Ramsey to Douglas Express bus.

 

Look carefully at the road design for the bottom of Summerhill and Governer's Bridge, create a straight through by pass and cut down on a lot of the traffic congestion in Douglas.

 

Also provides a useful all weather sports site. The NSC does provide some very good sports facilities, but there are limited smaller size all weather pitches on the Island. Splitting the NSC astroturf in half simply isn't an effective or very safe solution, particularly for use by kids.

 

Instead of spending the money on the animal processing plant, why not put the raw material to good use where it is needed, especially in the light of ever increasing electricity prices?

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What about a large biogas unit to provide power for the MEA and converted public transport,

 

Then revisit the concept of rebuilding some of the tram bodies to use them as commuter shuttles instead of the Ramsey to Douglas Express bus.

 

What jolly good ideas. I'll bet they turn out to be a little too visionary though. An all island tram system a la Croydon/Sheffield etc. with the main depot on the Summerland site is the way to go imho.

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Well to be serious you can do what you like with it but if you can go to memorial service on Thursday I think afternoon. Ever smell burning human flesh - no I didn't think so. I dont mean to be graphic like, but it really happened and I read a newspaper where the journalist said "Hey, what if this caught fire" and the Architect basically said "hey, no problem" and stuff on those lines. Amazingly this was an interview just a few weeks before the opening. The rest is history we seem to want to forget but it was a sad time if you don't mind me reminding you.

 

I used to go roller skating and that and when it reopened swimming and disco-dancing and most folk just forgot about the reality.

 

So, blah, blah, anyway there is a memorial service so maybe go along see.

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