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Subject: Re: Grand Ocean Hotel

Author: Concerned resident

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 07:50:48 03/09/07 Fri In reply to: Stephen Bevan 's message, "Grand Ocean Hotel" on 11:56:08 03/02/07 Fri Completely agree, what also amazes me is the hysteria following the proposals to raise a mobile mast in Saltdean Vale. I have in the past equired if anyone was concerned about the mast at top of Longridge avenue, and received deafening silence. It would seem that unless it's in your own back garden you don't care. On that note I thoroughly support the new mast. After all, the residents of the Longridge area have one and there is no reason why the rest of saltdean should be deprived of one. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[> Subject: Re: Grand Ocean Hotel

Author: Kieran [Edit]

Date Posted: 09:21:28 03/09/07 Fri I do tend to agree, but I feel the point you are missing is that the Ocean Hotel is currently being developed to a high standard which will be an asset to the area. If assylum seekers were to be placed there the site it would have remained in the derelict eye sore of a state it is now. It amazes me the number of people in Saltdean who feel hard done by by the current development to the Ocean Hotel. I am personally looking forward to it immensley and think it will bring with it a few more cars yes, but young vibrant people who lets face it, have a more positive outlook on life than the Fuddy Duddys Saltdean seems to have accumulated..... >On passing the Ocean Hotel in Saltdean recently, I was >reminded of the angry protests which were prompted, in >2003, by the prospect of 10 families of asylum seekers >being given temporary accommodation there. As I >remember it, a rather pernicious campaign of leaflets, >public meetings and placard-waving was initiated by >some local residents and shopkeepers. Ten families of >asylum-seekers, they argued, would place ain >intolerable burden on the local infrastructure. The >local school, GP surgeries, car parking and other >services would, they claimed, be placed under too much >strain and the arrival of the asylum-seekers should be >resisted at all costs. Any suggestions that their >objections were based on xenophobia or racism were >indignantly resisted, while those local residents who >dared to speak up in support of asylum-seekers were >vilified and, in some cases, threatened or >intimidated. It was not a proud moment for Saltdean >and, as a resident of almost 25 years, I was ashamed >of the ‘Little-Englander’ attitudes and the bitterness >on show during those tense few weeks. > >Now the Ocean Hotel is being converted into 279 one >and two-bedroom apartments. The redevelopment will >preserve much of the 1930’s chic of the building and >I’m sure the demand for these apartments will be high. >However, I’m puzzled by the deafening silence from the >2003 protesters. I’ve had no angry leaflets posted >through my door, nor have I been urged to attend a >public meeting to denounce the initiative. Surely the >protestors’ arguments about pressure on the local >infrastructure are even more valid? The number of new >residents which Saltdean will need to absorb when the >redevelopment is complete far exceeds the number of >asylum-seekers who the protesters feared would ‘flood’ >into the community back in 2003. > >This is all very troubling. A cynic might argue that >there is clearly one rule for asylum-seekers and >another for affluent middle-class people who bring >their spending power to the local community. The same >cynic might also suppose that the 2003 protests really >were based on nothing more than narrow-minded bigotry >and thinly-disguised racism and that the >‘infrastructure’ argument was, at best, a disingenuous >smokescreen. > >It is no surprise to me that – in the light of the >Saltdean experience - the debates on asylum and >migration in the UK are now being framed in such >narrow and unenlightened terms. My fear is that, as >long as local politicians feel there are easy votes in >whipping up a xenophobic frenzy among local citizens, >we risk having future elections and political debate >being polarised in a way which is both socially >divisive and damaging to harmonious community >relations. > >Stephen Bevan >Saltdean Drive >Saltdean