Taunton hotelier criticises Christmas Castle Green funfair (From Somerset County Gazette)

None is so deaf as those who cannot hear.

Taunton is doomed to slide into obscurity as a place to go to shop, eat and drink unless those in charge actually start to listen to people like Mr Chapman.

So what is contributing to Kit Chapman's despair about Somerset's county town? Is it just what has been proposed for Castle Green or the fact that he has made his hotel less attractive than formally and is concerned at his profit and loss account? He has turned away business for example some years ago, when living in Taunton, my wife and I enjoyed Christmas Day at Mr. Chapman's hotel paying well for the service. A few years later when wishing a repeat booking we were told that it was only open to those who wished a four day break with pricey accommodation: not for us only living a few miles away at the time! The upshot is that the man is to be forgotten having lost touch with reality.

£5m would've cleared a lot of drains or even built new ones then people wouldn't have suffered so much with flood waters. Oh, and please Councillors don't give me drivel about the money coming from Government Central Funds for the Castle Green fiasco as it is all TAXPAYERS' money and it should have been spent on necessities in this financial climate instead of digging up a revenue generating car park.

CosApp wrote:
£5m would've cleared a lot of drains or even built new ones then people wouldn't have suffered so much with flood waters. Oh, and please Councillors don't give me drivel about the money coming from Government Central Funds for the Castle Green fiasco as it is all TAXPAYERS' money and it should have been spent on necessities in this financial climate instead of digging up a revenue generating car park.

I agree totally however the money was only available for regeneration projects so in this case your anger should be with the government as they dictated how the funds were spent.

So Basil Fawlty is moaning again. Maybe they should redevelop the B&B and move it to a more desirable location away from all us mere mortals. Anyway, must go, I'm a very busy man!

Well if businesses weren't suffering enough they now have to deal with flood waters. Taunton get ready for my businesses to shut up shop and leave. We need more businesses which provide more jobs and thus more revenue for Taunton.

Mi_Coc wrote:

CosApp wrote:
£5m would've cleared a lot of drains or even built new ones then people wouldn't have suffered so much with flood waters. Oh, and please Councillors don't give me drivel about the money coming from Government Central Funds for the Castle Green fiasco as it is all TAXPAYERS' money and it should have been spent on necessities in this financial climate instead of digging up a revenue generating car park.

I agree totally however the money was only available for regeneration projects so in this case your anger should be with the government as they dictated how the funds were spent.

Very true. What we need an injection of common sense into Westminster and Local Government and it certainly doesn't exist in ANY of the main political parties. Fancy forming a government?

CosApp wrote:

Mi_Coc wrote:

CosApp wrote:
£5m would've cleared a lot of drains or even built new ones then people wouldn't have suffered so much with flood waters. Oh, and please Councillors don't give me drivel about the money coming from Government Central Funds for the Castle Green fiasco as it is all TAXPAYERS' money and it should have been spent on necessities in this financial climate instead of digging up a revenue generating car park.

I agree totally however the money was only available for regeneration projects so in this case your anger should be with the government as they dictated how the funds were spent.

Very true. What we need an injection of common sense into Westminster and Local Government and it certainly doesn't exist in ANY of the main political parties. Fancy forming a government?

Whilst local and central government is filled with career politicians, often those who made no money from their original pursuits, little will change since winning votes is paramount. As a result the "Jim will Fix it" attitude aimed at currying favour will continue with little sops like the Castle Green improvements being handed out to what is no more than an electorate that have not graduated from "Cyder City" - Tone Vale Tea - days.

CosApp wrote:

Mi_Coc wrote:

CosApp wrote:
£5m would've cleared a lot of drains or even built new ones then people wouldn't have suffered so much with flood waters. Oh, and please Councillors don't give me drivel about the money coming from Government Central Funds for the Castle Green fiasco as it is all TAXPAYERS' money and it should have been spent on necessities in this financial climate instead of digging up a revenue generating car park.

I agree totally however the money was only available for regeneration projects so in this case your anger should be with the government as they dictated how the funds were spent.

Very true. What we need an injection of common sense into Westminster and Local Government and it certainly doesn't exist in ANY of the main political parties. Fancy forming a government?

Whilst local and central government is filled with career politicians, often those who made no money from their original pursuits, little will change since winning votes is paramount. As a result the "Jim will Fix it" attitude aimed at currying favour will continue with little sops like the Castle Green improvements being handed out to what is no more than an electorate that have not graduated from "Cyder City" - Tone Vale Tea - days.

CosApp wrote:

Mi_Coc wrote:

CosApp wrote:
£5m would've cleared a lot of drains or even built new ones then people wouldn't have suffered so much with flood waters. Oh, and please Councillors don't give me drivel about the money coming from Government Central Funds for the Castle Green fiasco as it is all TAXPAYERS' money and it should have been spent on necessities in this financial climate instead of digging up a revenue generating car park.

I agree totally however the money was only available for regeneration projects so in this case your anger should be with the government as they dictated how the funds were spent.

Very true. What we need an injection of common sense into Westminster and Local Government and it certainly doesn't exist in ANY of the main political parties. Fancy forming a government?

Whilst local and central government is filled with career politicians, often those who made no money from their original pursuits, little will change since winning votes is paramount. As a result the "Jim will Fix it" attitude aimed at currying favour will continue with little sops like the Castle Green improvements being handed out to what is no more than an electorate that have not graduated from "Cyder City" - Tone Vale Tea - days.

CosApp wrote:

Mi_Coc wrote:

CosApp wrote:
£5m would've cleared a lot of drains or even built new ones then people wouldn't have suffered so much with flood waters. Oh, and please Councillors don't give me drivel about the money coming from Government Central Funds for the Castle Green fiasco as it is all TAXPAYERS' money and it should have been spent on necessities in this financial climate instead of digging up a revenue generating car park.

I agree totally however the money was only available for regeneration projects so in this case your anger should be with the government as they dictated how the funds were spent.

Very true. What we need an injection of common sense into Westminster and Local Government and it certainly doesn't exist in ANY of the main political parties. Fancy forming a government?

Whilst local and central government is filled with career politicians, often those who made no money from their original pursuits, little will change since winning votes is paramount. As a result the "Jim will Fix it" attitude aimed at currying favour will continue with little sops like the Castle Green improvements being handed out to what is no more than an electorate that have not graduated from "Cyder City" - Tone Vale Tea - days.

This from the man who not so long ago was pictured in the Gazette holding a large 'save our car park' placard. Now he describes it as previously having been 'a tired and scruffy Castle Green'. People are perfectly entitled to be pro or con this development, but to try to be both for one's own vested interests, is plain hypocracy!

If I was him I'd be more worried that someone will be knocked down and injured (or worse) by one of the many cars going to his hotel.

Don't these people realise that it is now a pedestrian zone, but then again they probably think we're all Plebs.

I think the local authorities need to introduce some traffic calming measures before it's too late for someone!

I find Kit Chapman pompus and a snob. Perhaps he should find an 'exclusive' hotel in a more rural setting with some land so he isn't surronded by 'rif raf' and 'tat' found in normal town centres.
His attitude stinks of self intreast and not that of attracting people to the town.

localmcnocal wrote:
I find Kit Chapman pompus and a snob. Perhaps he should find an 'exclusive' hotel in a more rural setting with some land so he isn't surronded by 'rif raf' and 'tat' found in normal town centres.
His attitude stinks of self intreast and not that of attracting people to the town.

I have to agree with “localmcnocal”. Chapman and so many of his contemporaries still believe that Taunton, being the County Town of Somerset, should be considered to be “Up Market” and thus attract a premium rating and charge accordingly. Unfortunately this is not the case. For example the town has even failed to attract such as John Lewis and Waitrose whilst local long established traders appear to continually downgrade in the face of competition confirming its poor standing. Moreover Chapman’s hotel fails to provide some of the facilities that are offered, often at much less cost, by other not too far distant hotels. He would be well advised to sell then move to a location were he can provide full “Five Star” accommodation with facilities to match such a rating leaving “Cider City” to host the poor at the likes of ”Travelodge”.