Westward Ho

This is the story so far.
Last year we had a complaint from one of the traders in Westward Ho! So we had a meeting with the Highways department about more signs and more bollards. I did not go alone I was with Lou, what was said at that meeting gave us a great deal of hope but alas the hope as been wash away with the out going tide.

These are the problems No help in Westward Ho! We now have to sort bollard,signs etc ourselves. We have to stop people parking in the wrong places when they come to see us off.
No help with Haywards roundabout. So once again the responsibility will be on my head.
We can no longer use the putting green to park up our Marshals, so that would mean all the Marshals will have to park in the road, so once again we lose another  carparking area for those taking part.. This would mean everyone just turns up and parks up, with everyone coming in from the far end of the quay.
I have to ask myself is all the hassle with Westward Ho and the round about worth the worry.

We have already asked the Council about using Bideford Park on the Monday as well as the Sunday.
After 15 year you would think we could get things sorted but it has not happened. I no long want the hassle with Westward Ho! we started this event in Westward Ho and I love Westward Ho it has a very special place in my heart but it is doing my head in.

I do not feel we can start the Grand Tour in Westward Ho any more and I know most of you will hate this decision but if you can suggest a reason why we should continue to leave from a place that gives us so many problems please be free to comment and I will listen to what you have to say.

Things have to change as will IIfracombe very soon because the area we normally park has been sold and I think they are going to build an hotel on it. If we want to keep this event going then we have to change as well.

I read this with a degree of confusion. When we have the Mayors of both these places coming along and saying so many positive and encouraging things, how on earth can their Councils then be so unhelpful? If I were you, I'd write to the Mayors personally and express my concerns, before making any definite decisions.
Having said the above, if there's no positive response, I'd move to where we are appreciated.
Should we start at Westward Ho! and finish at Ilfracombe this year, I think we should ask the Mayors face-to-face.

Whatever happens, count me in!


R.

Every year the Mayors change and all Councils are making cut backs. After 15 years I am a bit fed up of asking for help but help is not the only concern, responsibility also plays a big part. We have now lost 2 parking areas in Westward Ho, so we have reduced the minis to 250. I do not know how much revenue we bring into North Devon or Westward Ho! but over the years it must be well over a million pounds.

I am not getting any younger and after 15 years I think I can say sod it I have had enough of the problems this event brings in. We may not get the send of from Bideford Park as we get from Westward Ho! and we would really miss the promenade but we still have one incredible event no matter where we start from and just maybe we might all get a surprize from Bideford Park.  

I'm sure that our presence in Westward Ho! on the Monday must be a disruption - anything out of the ordinary is going to be, but that goes with the territory of being a seaside resort. I'd also have thought that any trader who chooses to open on Bank Holiday Monday would have had their trade boosted by the Mini owners and crowds of spectators, whether they sell sweets, newspapers, sandwiches or souvenirs, so it's disappointing that they saw fit to complain. I also supect the Mayors have very little (if any) real power.

Over the years we have adapted to ever-increasing restrictions in Westward Ho! and the hassles of the Heywood Roundabout, and the roundabout is possibly the bigger problem. They put a lot of responsibility on Terry and the marshals so I agree that maybe it is time to move on.

It has been nice to spread ourselves around by starting in different places on the two days but I'm inclined to agree that Bideford Park might be the best departure point for the Monday this year. I think that we might be surprised at how many people follow us to Bideford and desert Westward Ho! that day.

Didn't think of it why not start somewhere different on the Sunday and leave Monday for Bideford Park, Just an idea.
As far as we know it was only 1 trader and we did feel he had a point.

Spill the beans. Which trader?..... Leaving from Northam Burrows would still give us the problem of the roundabout......

For goodness sake Terry, for everything that you do and arrange for the area and the money we all spend in the shops and the area over the weekend. one person complains and stuffs it all up for everyone. I agree with Andrew, once the local papers get hold of the news and the change in starting destination, I think all the people that went to Westward will up sticks to Bideford or where ever, to see us off. We are by far the biggest attraction in the place on that day and I'm sure that one lousey complainer will anger those that turn up each year. Its sad for the residents that watch us from their houses, if we start else where, can we still tour through westward to see them? Also agree with Richard, do what ever you need to do Terry, we will still follow and support you and the hospice.

Maybe an advert in the local rag some months ahead of the event may generate the help needed to blank off the roundabout or the car parking areas? But just do what needs to be done for the event to continue, I wish there was more we could do to help.  

Who said Northam Burrows? No idea at the moment where we could leave from, open for ideas

How about the Big Sheep? Could they do a deal for visiters that come to see the minis off? Is it big enough to hold that many minis and visiters? Or is it too far away to incorporate? Sorry, too many questions right? oops

It not just the trader who complained but the efforts we have to go to, just to make sure no one parks where they should not, when they come to see us off.
I would hate this event to stop before we have raised at least £350,000 wouldn't you and I would like it to go on until we have raise at least half a million for the CHSW but things change so fast these days.

I must admit I hadn't thought about changing the Sunday start.

If Northam Burrows is a possibility is it viable to head across to Abbotsham and join the A39 at the roundabout near Atlantic Village? I'm sure it must be a quieter roundabout than Heywood's.

If it is it might be a better start than Bideford - in the old days I think we used to go up Clovelly Road pretty much as one group but nowadays we get very split up, and it gets even worse at the Atlantic Village traffic lights.

As an alternative to the Burrows, is there any chance of us hijacking the big car park at Appledore for the Sunday morning start?

Quoted from Terry

Who said Northam Burrows? No idea at the moment where we could leave from, open for ideas

I said Northam Burrows as an idea but not enough loos there. If Ilfracombe is a problem too, are we (especially you) hitting heads against a brick wall?

Sorry, I get a bit hot headed. It just seems such a shame that everything has to change when its only 1 day in 365. These kids and their families count each day and try to spend it in the best and happiest way they can, yet others cant just keep their hands for 1 day. I'm sorry, I know that the complainant has undoubtedly good reason to complain, but 1 day, 1 little day to improve life for so many...

The Trader is not the real problem the problem is westward ho! and all that it concerns.

What about from your house Terry? Your neighbours wouldn't mind...........

I already have about 12 minis here or so I have been reminded by the council on a number of occasions.

What if we did change the days Sunday we leave from Westward Ho but go the back way out, up the hill along a few lanes and join Abbotsham roundabou, where we normally join the 369 . We should be able to do that without to many problems and there are no traffic lights.

As well as all the other problem getting from the Park to Abbotsham round about via clovelly road they are digging up the road in front of the Police Station which would give us even more problems.

We would then leave Bideford Park on the Monday along the Quay over the old Bridge and back on the normal route without affecting the Link Road.

There is one other point I should mention that because all the roads that we travel down at the starts would be 30mph road we should be able to apply under the old Town and Country act for permission to have a procession.
I think maybe we might have a start of a plan that might help us keep this event going for a few more years.

Not sure if I mentioned this but we have lost the putting green at westward ho, so all the marshals will now be parked in the road, That would mean we no longer have set parking area, it will turn up and park up just like the Park.

Anyone with any more ideas.
Please remember this is just an idea and we have to start the long process of filling in forms and getting permissions.  

Blond moment.... Won't the traders still be upset on sunday???????????????

I like the idea of te burrows somewhere different maybe a chance for some different photos etc but I agree with Rita about the toilet issue.  THe only other issuew is if the weather isn't on our side it may be a bit bleak?  Also as its a bit more out of the way would we get may members of the public there?  THe idea of using the park on monday is also a good one.  Are there any bigs houses/halls who would allow us to start from there?  

I think if we don't go form Westward Ho! over the weekend it will be a real shame but at the end of the day if its cuasing Terry and lot of hassele etc then it is time to try and sort something different out.  I'm sure that the locals and traders will notice a differance over that weekedn if we don't use Westward Ho! as a start point.

I really can not understand the local polices reluctance to offer help with what lets face it is an event that brings in thousends of pounds to the area over the weekend I wonder what the majority of the public would think if they knew about this?

Are there any local retail parks which we could use as a start point?

If we do end up changing the start points what about having posters in some of the Minis that will be down during the week before to advertise the changes as much as possible I'd be happy to put some in mine

We get badly split up coming out of the burrows on the saturday chip run... wonder how much worse it would be with more vehicles... it's the usual problem of getting clear of speed bumps seeing the mini ahead disappearing and then flooring it to catch up... not ideal...

i agree with that Bideford Park departure on the Monday is a good idea so all we have to do is sort out where to go from on the Sunday


how about the start point at Dartington Crystal and do sunday backwards with all the Minis when coming back from Hartland going back to Dartington Crystal as normal or wwwould that be too much disruption in torrington say

just an idea??

is it worth a get together with a coffee / stiff drink at a local hostalrey ie PUB and a Map and brainstorm some solutions

im on holiday for 2 weeks and only have gardening to look forward to !!! as well as cleaning my house ,aboys house and Minis to clean !!!!!!!!!!

Two days in a week for me, must be a bit of a record after so long.
So here we go for this years event.
Saturday the Mini event at the big sheep and the  burrows as normal in the evening, the countries biggest mini cruise.

Sunday Westward Ho!,
This year due to the lost of our mini marshals parking area the putting green, we will have to park the marshals in the road. So for everyone else it will be turn up and park up. no fancy dress except hats of course.
We sort out the bollards and the business as usual signs to keep the traders happy.
At 11-00 am we leave by the back way out of Westward Ho! and arrive at Abbotsham roundabout. No Traffic lights, no road works as yet.
It could be a very quiet day for us but who knows.

Monday Bideford Park
Same as last year only a different day, lots of fancy dress etc.
11-00am Leave the park, along the quay, over the old bridge toward Little Bridge House.
It could be another quiet day but who knows.

One other issue that we have to face is our marshals and Haywards roundabout they all hate it now they will not be going anywhere near it.

Just like everyone else I have no idea what effect these changes will have on the event, maybe we won't raise as much money, maybe there will not be as many people out in the streets when we start. I do not know what will happen but what I am sure off is that the changes we make know will ensure that, that thing at the end August might just go on for a few more years.

    
    

After all this you might not see me until August.

But surely you are going to get the problems whether it's sunday or monday?

Not really the problem with the trader was no one knew his business was open. So we agreed to have a sign made up. Then we have the Highways department they wanted us to put up bollards to stop people parking on both side of the roads and making it impossible to get through. Thats not minis but people who come down to see us off. The highway department said they would get that sorted but now they cannot. The Highway department also said they would help us get Haywards Roundabout sorted but that has been washed away as well.

Our biggest problem is the round about by swooping the days we can get to where ever without going near it.
It goes like this Westward Ho Hartland Quay and the only thing in between the 2 is Abbotsham roundabout, no traffic lights etc.

Then we have Bideford Park, Little Bridge House, and between the 2 not much to worry about.
If some one can come up with a better plan I will listen

Quoted from Terry

So here we go for this years event.
Saturday the Mini event at the big sheep and the  burrows as normal in the evening, the countries biggest mini cruise.

Sunday Westward Ho!,

Monday Bideford Park
Lots of fancy dress etc.

Just like everyone else I have no idea what effect these changes will have on the event, maybe we won't raise as much money, maybe there will not be as many people out in the streets when we start. I do not know what will happen but what I am sure off is that the changes we make know will ensure that, that thing at the end August might just go on for a few more years.

    
    

Terry,
this will be our nineth LGT, long may it continue, and we, hopefully like many others will continue to support the event. The LGT is about the CHSW and mini's, Westward Ho has been great fun but might be a casualty of the events success and the countrywide onslaught of building developement.

We would like to applaud the effort and the dedication of the organisers and the marshalls.
We will be at the start on all of the days, where ever that might be.
As someone who will be coming down to the area before the event, I'll be more than happy to have posters on cars / trailers to help advertise any changes to LGT, when can we start? Riv run? or is that too soon?

I am one of the Marshals that marshalled the Haywards Roundabout last year :- and I would have no problem marshalling it again this year, as for advertising different routes/start points, I would gladly do it . I arrive at the Big Sheep on the Friday with a fellow Marshal in tow  

Quoted from Terry

If some one can come up with a better plan I will listen

North Devon geography is not my strong point (though I should be alright by now, I've been there enough ) but your last plan does seem to make plenty of sense and I think (with my limited local knowledge) that it'll work  

Just found out today that Torridge District Council maybe upgrading the promenade at Westward Ho sometime in July or August you can bet you life if they are it will be August and at the end,

"So where do we go for here"

From what I've been told the works are supposed to be finished by the end of May  

Upgrading the prom at a major tourist attraction at the height of the holiday season? Surely not even a local authority could be that stupid?

What am I saying?!


R.

Quoted from richardjackson99

Upgrading the prom at a major tourist attraction at the height of the holiday season? Surely not even a local authority could be that stupid?

What am I saying?!


R.

And can you see them letting minis park on it after???????????? Health and safety drip trays no doubt.

Quoted from richardjackson99

Upgrading the prom at a major tourist attraction at the height of the holiday season? Surely not even a local authority could be that stupid?

What am I saying?!


R.

And can you see them letting minis park on it after???????????? Health and safety drip trays no doubt.