General Discussion
What Does Dawlish Need?
What facilities do you think we are lacking in Dawlish, i.e. things that would enhance the experience for locals and visitors alike. I agree with the previous correspondent that we are lacking in a decent restaurant. Is there a reason for this?
I can only think it is because locals would not use it, you cannot survive on just the summer trade. The Brewery was smart, now thats gone noisy and people hanging around outside, its taken the Lansdown route, all locals want is 'football football football', how 'braindead' is that, what Dawlish has matches the people here.
I have plenty of time, so let's hear your thoughts. So far 2 replies, but 0 constructive answers - so I'll ask the question again. What year-round facilities do we need/want for locals and visitors alike?
too delicious on the strand is open at weekends at night - you bring your own booze which helps keep your costs down - the food is fresh, local, good quality - we've eaten there a few times! there seems to be more places open at night now - the indian looks like its had a good make over so fingers crossed it will have a good chef! dawlish may want a " good restaurant" but how often would people use it? there's lots of good stuff in dawlish but people always think the grass is greener elsewhere rather than appreciating the good stuff we've got!
You're never going to get seriously posh in Dawlish - there just isn't the customer base, particularly amongst the tourists. Most of the eateries are firmly targeted at the low budget tourists, and they're welcome to them. But Deli delicious is a real step in the right direction for locals (and tourists) as - to a lesser extent- is Bailey's/No.1 Cafe. I've enjoyed eating in both. The brewery bar could be a contender, but in all honesty I'm put off going in because of all the people hanging around in the doorway. Silly I know, but it's just offputting. There was a place in newton Abbott - I think Carlino's - now bankrupt - that just hit the spot but would be just too much for Dawlish and was apparently too much for Newton - shame. For something good I'd head for the Elephant in Torquay, but it''s a distance, driving is a chore and means you can't drink etc. I'll always try and support a place making the effort and would love to see more aiming at a regular local market.
Sounds interesting and ambitious, particularly given it's location but good luck to them -- I'll certainly be giving it a go.
What Does Dawlish Need? A good kick up the back side. Dawlish needs a good council for a start.. Poeple who are willing to fight for the town and against Teignbridge who seem to run this town, and not just sit thewre as a figure head that gets paid for doing nothing. We don't need eateries we have enough and they are not supported by locals. If your prices are high then people are not going to give you theri custom.
You have not said what you want either. Back to Council bashing. Barclays and HSBC left Dawlish, that has to say something about business prospects here. I see Woolworth still vacant. Put Sainsburys on the green ..that would make it a busy town centre with pretty river walks and wake things up! lol
Totally agree Wondering. Sainsburys on the green now that would get some to sit up and take notice... Me... what do I want.... To see this town up and running and a town we can all be proud of... Not as it seems, to be heading that way, a ghost town.
Sid, what facilities/amenities do you think would stop Dawlish from becoming, quote: "a ghost town"?
we dont need the strand to be pedestrianised, just take away the parking on the shop side make the pavement wider.no deliveries after 10am on the other side enschalon parking out over the wasted space on the lawn.we need to encourage better traders into the town, rebrand ourselves to consumers. how about an argos if premises could be found would save going to exeter or newton abbott,not everybodies choice i know but i think the majority in dawlish would go there, something better than stewarts for clothes.( i dont think we need more eateries. )
Decent shops for a start. Clothes shop A decent super market which is not owned by Ronnie Rip Off and Co. Close the pubs that attract drunken riff raff that get pissed and then proceed to scream and shout at the top of their voices and make every one's lives who they come into contact with a misery... Better parking, Better Policing A park warden so he or she can take pictures of the knobheads of this town who think it is great to damage the trees and seating in the park which WE have to pay for.... The list is endless
I thought CCTV was there to catch and assist with the prosecution of vandals and violent drunks, sorry just remembered it cannot see at night.
PJD has the most positive answer to what Dawlish needs. Argos a good idea also maybe an Iceland or any major store who's prices would be the same in Dawlish as elsewhere so locals would be encouraged to shop locally.
glad we agree ziggy having stores like that would have a knock on effect and would be good for everybody without knocking our local traders. i could see it bringing people from starcross to teignmouth into the town, benificial to all, but with the backward thinking people who run this town and others who live in it would it happen? imagine xmas shopping without having to go outside dawlish, i can dream lol
small town mentality, yes i am back... i hate industry trying to mend things that are not broken, but xmas without having to leave dawlish? i watched the hammer house of horror films in the 70's about these opinions...my delightful children BEHAVE as GOOD children should & they believe that Santa Claus (God brought back from the crusades)..will reward them for being that way- the best way so far to raise kiddie winkies- do something naughty and you upset Daddy (the fear of dissappointment is so much worse than a spank on the botty) Dawlish needs ZERO tolerance on CHAVS but also needs ZERO tolerance on Victor Meldrews! Recall MUSE back in September? What a success, yet people complained about the noise? I saw MUSE on the Friday, no trouble.... drove over on the Saturday, slowed down at C0-Op and opened my window... could hardly hear anything....- I also drove up to Higher Yannon Drive...not a sausage...YET PEOPLE STILL COMPLAINED ABOUT THE NOISE! Excuse me , but- I am slowly ebbing your way... when [we get older , we lose our sense of hearing... so how come a 44 yr old (yeah, thats me) could hear nothing at the CO-OP..?
i would welcome a concert on the lawn if it was run correctly, i remember some years ago the rotary club had a party in the park with tribute groups to queen abba and the beatles it was fantastic and was enjoyed by young and old. i agree there will always be complaints. the muse concert was a brilliant idea to give the area a boost and put teignmouth on the map, as it finished at 11pm each night there should have been no reason for complaint. but fel what do you think would improve dawlish to bring it to life, sensible answer only please lol
i've been thinking about this one quite sensibly so here goes - as the banks have left dawlish, more local people are having to go out of town to do their banking and are therefore spending their money in the towns they do their banking in. teignmouth feels quite continental with its cafe culture - lots of people sitting in the sunshine - give the town a bit of a buzz. in dawlish the pavements are quite narrow and if you are rushing around and get stuck behind buggies, groups of people wandering etc it does get frustrating. the parking is an issue - i apprecaite that the council has to enforce parking rules and costs but the traffic wardens are very ticket happy - and at a time when people are struggling for money and the town is struggling for customers, i think we need to scrap parking charges either for a period of time or maybe on weekends - something to encourage people to come in to town.i also think the town needs a high street brand to encourage shoppers - a wh smith, a peacocks ? the lawn over the summer holds events to encourage tourists and locals a like in to town...but once the holiday makers leave the events end. maybe we need to hold more events on the lawn - an afternoon tea dance, brass bands, food festival, punch and judy, cider festival, dog show? just something to give people a reason to come to dawlish.....
It doesn't seem as if the Co-op is going to expand into the empty Woolworth's store as there is a store to let in the window. Maybe that bird was right when a few weeks ago it told me that the Co-op had spent so much money on buying up Somerfields stores there wasn't enough in the kitty to expand the Dawlish store!!!
xx is “right on” about the use of the lawn as unique feature of Dawlish, although I hope that the suggested attractions would attract local as well as visitors to visit and use this unique setting.
i hope so! locals are always very supportive of carnival and the christmas market....maybe it would bring the community together a bit more?
Brightening up! It's a lovely town, I moved here just under a year ago which I wouldn't have done if I didn't like it, but looking at it realistically, it is a bit dull. The town I moved from had an area just outside the town centre that was looking old and shabby, the town council raised funds and provided the business holders with quite a large percentage of the cost of repainting their premises. They also helped with the cost of new signage. It worked, the area was brightened up significantly and became quite nice to walk around and shop in. Could something like this initiative not be done here? If the Strand was pedestrianised there would be room for eateries to place more tables and chairs at the front of their business encouraging the cafe culture seen in Teignmouth. Car parking should be restricted to Barton Street, with some limited short stay areas within the town, but could there not be a Shopmobility facility introduced with the premises on Barton Street car park? I've seen this facility work really well, as long as there is an easy route into the shopping area. One more thing, someone should really hound the railway company to repaint the bridge, it is becoming an eyesore.
Agree about the Strand but cant see them doing it they so love their cars, it should be just for disabled and delivery use. As I see it cars spoil towns. It is why Teignmouth has the edge, as you say people can sit around in the open. Traffic could be reversed in the High Street to allow no traffic in the Strand. Yes that Bridge!
Some great points there Cal. Completely and utterly disagree about "Disabled" access to a pedestrianised Strand though - blue badge holders seem to have a free hand to park wherever the hell they want to as it is. A Shopmobility scheme (as suggested by Cal) would be much more preferable.
the layout of teignmouth town centre lends itself to certain areas of pedestrianisation, unfortunately our layout in dawlish is different, our main shopping areas go around the lawn !!! cafe culture not surethat is needed in the strand,what i would agree to is a widening of the pavement, take away the shop side parking and make it enschalon over the shrub area of the lawn as ive said before. more litter bins are needed in the town as well, and can the council not enforce stub out bins on walls of premises for cigarette butts. i do smoke but hate to see the litter from cigarette butts everywhere !!! if councillors read this i hope they are taking onboard our comments, get out of your surreal world and earn your money and do something before this great town dies
dawlish needs a tecos it would do wonders for the town. would also make life much eayer wouldnt have to go newton or exeter just to go for the weekly shop
Or a Sainsburys??? I believe that the "Supermarket Wars" moves on to the High Court today to decide which of the big two supermarkets opens in (or just outside) Dawlish. Don't know if a decision will be made today, but the proceedings certainly start today.
The Swan Inn now does excellent food. Far superior than all the rubbish you get in town. As for the Lansdown, who in their right mind would want to eat there? Same as a lot of other places in town. All they serve up is cheap tacky food for cheap tacky chavs, who's only insight to foreign food is a Chinese on a Friday, Kebab or Pizza on a Saturday, and the most exciting of all, a Macdonalds when they go to get their Elizabeth Arden jewellery at Argos. The Investigator has spoken.