General Discussion

Hi all,

Being a Teignmouth/Dawlish boy i can say it was an honour being a part of the replacment of the bridge. 

Nice to know i am being a part of the history.

I was the Crane operator that lifted in the bridge in. 

And what's even better Jason is that it was all recorded both via still photography and on video.

Now, if only we had something like a Brunel Heritage Centre here the whole thing would make an ideal exhibit don't you think? Indeed, there could be a separate bit from you telling everyone how it was done etc.

Just an idea..........  

and here's the Brunel Heritage/Visitor centre theme expanded a little more. 

Have a Brunel Visitor centre (at The Manor House?). Market Dawlish as being the centre of the lovely rail journey between Exeter and Newton Abbot.  Have a person dressed up as Brunel at the visitor centre/in the town? Have a model railway at the BVC (Brunel Visitor Centre) showing for example journey from Exeter to Newton Abbot. Have hands on stuff for the kids. 

If the BVC is located at the Manor House or thereabouts then visitors have to go through the town to access it - which might encourage more people to go into the shops/cafes etc located in the town.

Lynne thats a brilliant idea and with the regeneration starting soon perhaps it could be instigated, why dont you suggest it to the Town Council or David Force Chair of Chamber of Trade

@Jasonclatworthy - and a damn fine job you did too! i was stunned just how "quick & easy" it all happened. which of course like my line of work, true professionals can make anything look easy. 

Well done that man I say!!! Awesome stuff. 

When the pics and videos arrive, can you send me some. My office email is jasonclatworthy@kinglifting.co.uk  All in all chaps im glad that the job was a sucess. Any other big jobs please recommend us. Its good to get the word out as well as advertisment.

Best Wishes

What a great idea Lynne I could see special trains stopping at Dawlish being met by Brunel with a guided tour on the way to the BVC could be a winner.

Okay people - could someone do me/us a favour? If you think this Brunel idea thingy is a possible goer could some of you draw it to the attention of our local councillors? I would do so myself but seemingly at least one of them is fed up with me contacting them about various ideas/info concerning regeneration. 

I quite openly admit that I am not a committee person. Meetings do my head in. So, having also said that, via e-mail correspondence to some councillors, I was told by one of them  

"Shame Lynne as ideas without work is really just self indulgence (I think the Victorians had another word for it.......)".

Anyone know what word he had in mind? I didn't ask him as I decided to terminate the e-mail correspondence at that point.

So, be warned.  It would seem that you can only put forward ideas if you are prepared to go to meetings/sit on committees etc. And as I am not prepared to do either of those things it follows, a la that particular councillor, that I am therefore not entitled to put forward ideas.

I see there is a thread running on Eyes of Dawlish about this with some interesting comments for, against, and amending the idea I put forward above.

Great. That's what ideas are for. To be thrashed out, thought about and, if necessary, to be chucked out. But in order for that to happen of course they have to be 'out there' in the public domain. 

So, does anyone else have any other ideas for getting more people more often (both residents and visitors) into the town centre? Suggest you don't put any other ideas on this thread though. Start another one and/or put suggestions on Eyes of Dawlish fb. 

Let's see what gets suggested. Who knows someone might just come out with a cracker.