Warners Holiday Camp, Seaton. Update - March 08

I went out with the intention of taking photos of pillboxes but on the way there I had to go past the derelict holiday camp (link to previous explores thread below) and to my amazement the gates were open. So wandering in, I encountered who I believe to be the site foreman. I asked him if I could take a few photos, just of the outside of the main building from where we were standing, to show how it's deteriorated recently. To which he replied 'No'. He then told me that as Tesco had bought the site they were anxious to begin demolition straight away. I asked him when demolition was due and he said 'now'. I then said that it was fair enough and I'll just take some pics from beyond the gates. To which he said 'No you can't'. He then went on about corporate liability and if any photos get out then there'll be some trouble.
Now I don't know about you, guys and gals, but I don't like threats, so I duly left the site, snuck behind the walls and shot a few pics. I then hared around to another side of the site and took a few pics from there. There's nothing majorly interesting, but the photos do show the preliminaries of clearing the site, the addition of portacabins and some of the latest deterioration.

Previous explores thread...very long as several visits have been tacked onto the one thread.

http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/showthread.php?t=2379







From another side, from where some of the portacabins can be seen.











Cheers

I'm no expert, but I thought that, with the exception of pics of Crown/Government/MoD property, it was legal to take photographs from public property.

Of course, you could be legally warned by a police officer for causing an obstruction by using a tripod or simply for standing in one place for too long (as happened to Esther Rantzen on "That's Life" many years ago, for those who can remember).

Not sure how 'corporate responsibility' enters into it, unless you catch demolition contractors ignoring health and safety law, as they often do...

Foxylady said:

I then said that it was fair enough and I'll just take some pics from beyond the gates. To which he said 'No you can't'. He then went on about corporate liability and if any photos get out then there'll be some trouble.

Click to expand...

What a nob. Nobody can stop you filming or taking photos when your on public ground! How longs that spot been abandond! Would'nt fancy taking a holiday there thats for sure.....

To me that sounds a little dodgy, corporate liability. That doesn't make sense, especially if your outside the gates, on a public road, or footpath, then you can't be stopped from taking pics.

With him saying that, i wonder if Tesco have permission to demolish the building straight away? Normally there is a notice on a post, lamp post, telegraph pole etc, informing people of planning permission, and who to consult to appeal etc.

found this on wikipedia regarding corporate liability.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_liability

loads of new laws have come into play now, since i did my law course, so not sure whats going on there.

ask at the local council offices and see if anything has been put up, cos it seems quick to me. but maybe im wrong lol.

Cheers for the update Foxy,

Sal

Yeah, I know! There's something definitely weird about it. I knew they couldn't stop me taking pics from the pavement, but the way I read it, is that Tesco are more scared of litigation than anything else, ie liability for any accident occuring on the site. Why they'd be lary of someone taking pics at all (and he did stress that) is strange.
I read in the local paper that Tesco bought the site, but it's just occured to me that the guy was also stressing that now Tesco own it, they can do what they like. Not so, of course!
I won't say what I'm going to do...unfriendly eyes and all that, but I will do it and I'll get back to you!

this smells really dodgy to me to like you are all saying as long as you are on public property who can stop you taking pics?

mineme said:

this smells really dodgy to me...

Click to expand...

Research done...looks even more dodgy...watch this space.

Thanx for the update Foxy,sure does seem something covert is going on..maybe a call to your district councils planning dept may clear things a little..generally I (Stu) find on most sites about to demo`d they will let some folk take pics providing they wear hardhat,vis vest and steely shoes..We are doing a similar thing over at RAF Yatesbury where it is being redeveloped..a bottle of good wine always paves the way for relations if you know what I mean!
cheers
Stu

Or it could just be a jobsworth security guard trying to make his own life easier. It usually is.

Tescos buying it is no secret.

Cheers for that, Krela. I hadn't been able to find anything from either the East Devon District Council website or the local papers to confirm it.

Neat quote from Tesco...
'Seaton will at last be able to capitalise on the new high-spend and high-value tourism trend...'
I think they probably mean 'Tesco will at last be able to...'

The guy I spoke to was the site foreman of the contractors brought in to demolish the buildings. Maybe he was being jobsworthy, but some of the things he mentioned didn't add up somehow. Anyway, I've sent an email to the planning department with various queries and comments, and should hear something within a few days.

Thats so sad, when I was there on holiday we were mostly on this side, it had all the family stuff, the tiger club and the harbour lights club room. The abandoned building in the photo was reception for both sites. They were pretty much merged together when I went on holiday there in about 92 I think, you could go in both sides although the warners side was geared towards adults. When I went to Haven training seminars they mostly used the Warners side in Lyme Lights and the dining room, however we used to go across to Harbour Lights for the show rehearsals!

Foxy,a question...is the Tesco being built on the old site only,or is the other half closed too and being demolished as well...I think it was called Hollybush Hotel.
cheers
Stu

The Lyme Bay holiday camp/centre lol (sorry, still use the old term camp lol) is still being advertised and taking bookings for this year, so presumably it will only be built on the old Seaton holiday camp site, the one on the left.

Here's the website for it.

http://www.hollybushhotels.co.uk/lyme_bay.htm

Hope that helps,

Sal

Thanx for clearing this up Sal,
regards
Stu.

Just what you want, go on holiday next to Tescos!!

Ahhh! Not quite like that unfortunately.
Tesco now owns the whole of the regeneration site which is from just this side of the bridge to the harbour right up to beyond the old Warners site. This includes both camp sites, Racal Electronics, several small retail outlets, a boat builders yard, Seaton Youth Centre, the Tourist Information Centre and the Tram terminal and station.There is also a huge tract of land going inland which includes flood plains where they plan to build houses!!!!! Now you know why I'm so freakin' angry. :icon_evil
If you look at Krelas link you'll see a map of where Tesco will be building their supermarket plus all the rest of the 'for rent' retail sites. This is just a tiny part of the regeneration site.
tesco haven't just bought a site for their supermarket...they've bought half a town!

Thanx for that Foxy,sounds like Seaton has fallen to Tesco`s world domination tour...on to Pyestock next to set up camp...ah well,thats healthy competition for you..not.

Not sure whats happening with Lyme Bay camp then, on the website, they're still advertising for the new year next year, up until 2nd Jan 2009.

chelle said:

Thanx for that Foxy,sounds like Seaton has fallen to Tesco`s world domination tour...on to Pyestock next to set up camp...ah well,thats healthy competition for you..not.

Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure I read recently that Tescos is the second biggest landowner in the country next to the Royal Family now. They buy vast tracts of land simply to stop their competitors from building stores.