No sign of Westward Ho! promised developments

By [lchurchill]

MONTHS after Westward Ho! residents complained of derelict sites and dirty streets — the big improvement plans are still to develop.

Last summer residents felt angry after construction projects stopped, leaving building sites scattered across the village.

Many villagers were concerned the tourists, which many businesses rely on, would not want to return to the seaside destination.

And months later little progress has been made — particularly with the two largest sites, the Buccaneer and the former John Fowler Holiday Park.

The Journal talked to residents about living among the building sites.

Jim Norton from Westward Ho! described parts of the village as a "bomb site".

He said: "There are derelict sites around the area and they are not going to do work here — it is just a big rubbish tip.

"If you had come here last year and seen this, would you come back again? People now are getting really fed up with it."

Ian Freemantle moved from Bideford to Westward Ho! just five months ago to be nearer the surf and said he loved living in Westward Ho!, but he believes something needs to be done to clear up the tired and dated holiday destination.

He said: "I have seen the proposals for the former John Fowler site and they look good, but at the moment it is a complete eye sore.

"The toilet blocks on the village green still aren't finished and I think it could take years for the work to be done. It being in this state is not going to attract visitors and it's not nice for those living around it."

Another elderly resident who had lived in the village all her life said "dreadful mistakes" had been made leaving some of the area looking "absolutely awful".

She said: "Everywhere is changing and you accept that, but it is how Westward Ho! is changing that is worrying."

Another resident added: "You do wonder how long these sites are going to just sit there demolished?

"How much is Westward Ho! going to deteriorate in that time?

"A couple of these big developments came along at the wrong time for the village and left us with unsold and barren sites.

"This will have to remain as an eye sore for the medium term — there is no chance of a compulsory purchase — so what the answer is, other than turning the clock back, I just don't know."

Read more:

Work not started on John Fowler Holiday Park site

No building work on Buccaneer site

Pressure on council to start Westward Ho! regeneration