Why Does Plymouth Fall Apart Every Time It Snows?
4 January 2010
Many people would say that all it takes is a sprinkling of snow and the whole of Plymouth comes to a standstill. This could also be said for many other parts of the country!
Well, it's true that the buses sometimes stop running, events get cancelled and schools and businesses close every time it snows.
There are two schools of thought on this. One takes the machismo attitude that a little snow shouldn't stop anyone from doing anything and that people should stop moaning and get on with their lives. People who live in Scotland, Canada, or anywhere else where snow is common, often take this attitude.
The other school of thought is one of more caution. Yes people could go out and about, buses could run, and all events could go ahead.
But bear in mind that this winter the Accident and Emergency wards at Derriford Hospital have seen uprecedented numbers of people treated for broken and fractured bones. What may be a mere inconvenience to a young person, can be much more serious in an elderly person, a percentage of whom will not recover from a fracture or a break. Although as someone who has suffered a broken arm as a child, I would call it a lot worse than an inconvenience!
In addition, whilst buses can run and cars can drive, especially when the main roads are gritted or salted, getting off the untreated side roads can be the real problem. Crashing into several of your neighbours cars as you attempt to leave your own road will not make you very popular. Also, if you have a high excess on your car insurance policy, then you could end up paying for any bumps or scrapes out of your own pocket. In addition should a pedestrian suddenly step out in front of your car, as they can be prone to do, then you may experience difficulty in stopping in time!
Finally, your event could go ahead as planned, but how many people will actually turn up? On a cold winter night people aren't famously motivated to go out to an event. Add some snow or ice into the mix and your attendance could be very low indeed. And do you really want to risk your members or attendees having a slip, or a minor accident on their way there?
I may seem over cautious to some, but it seems to me that if your journey isn't particularly important, or if your event could be postponed, then maybe a rain check would be best. No we don't want buses to be cancelled so that children miss school, or people can't get to work, but if the journey could be dangerous, then is it worth the risk?
We should remember that as Britain, and Plymouth in particular, is not accustomed to snow then people are not used to driving in snow and haven't developed those techniques which could avoid accidents. In addition, areas unused to snow will not have the same numbers of snow ploughs available, or sufficient quantities or the grit, sand, or salt which may be needed.
One last point, remember the people who were trapped overnight in their cars this year and last year because of bad weather? How many of them would have set off if they had predicted that that was going to happen?
Is Plymouth the Wettest City in the UK?
30 November 2009
No, not all the year round, honestly! But on Saturday 29th November, between the times of noon and 6.00pm, Plymouth was apparantly the wettest city in the UK. This is according to a forcaster with MeteoGroup.
Those of us who were in Plymouth at the time won't feel any surprise on hearing this. We heard and saw the rain hammering down in biblical proportions, as if a river was being emptied over our houses (or our heads if we were unlucky enough to be outdoors). This was swiftly followed by lightning, thunder and hail. Yes, Plymouth was a very dramatic place to be on Saturday afternoon!
We cope well with rain in Plymouth, I mean we're used to it, aren't we? I never go anywhere without my umbrella. But this was something extraordinary even for Plymouth; people being rescued from cars in Devonport, a man having to climb on top of his van to escape three feet of water in Sparkwell, eight shops in Hyde Park flooded, and homes flooded in Elburton and Mutley, are just a few of the water related incidents in Plymouth on Saturday.
Blocked drains were blamed for exacerbating some of the incidents. I can well believe this as I've noticed that every time it rains heavily, certain drains regularly get blocked and pedestrians have to skirt around a huge lake in order to keep their feet dry. One example is on the corner of Hyde Park Road and Oxford Avenue, where the drain gets blocked every time there's heavy rain. It doesn't surprise me, then, that the Thresher store on that corner was flooded.
Yes, we cope well with rain in Plymouth, but please Plymouth City Council unblock some of the drains for all of our sakes; pedestrians, drivers, the emergency services and most of all home and business owners, who can't afford the trauma of being flooded, especially so close to Christmas.
Biggins and Sampson Kickstart Christmas
13 November 2009
The Christmas lights switch on in the Piazza was really buzzing last night.
My family and I arrived in time to catch George Sampson's last two songs and we were amazed at the turnout. Despite the fact that it was pouring with rain and howling a gale, the Piazza was packed. During George's performance, excited teenage girls were screaming in my ear and leaping around when the TV cameras swung their way.
I have to be honest and say that I had never heard of George Sampson before yesterday, as despite being a bit of a fan of 'X Factor', I don't tend to watch 'Britain's Got Talent' (which he won in 2008 for those who are still in the dark) Well, I don't have time to watch everything!
The comedy moment; This was when the (male)Heart DJ said "Who fancies waking with George? I know I do!" Ummmm, I think he meant on the breakfast show!
Heart FM were dishing our free sweets which kept the children happy, and although there was a strong presence of police and security guards, they happily did not appear to see much action as the crowd was very good natured.
When George had finished, Christopher Biggins and the Lord Mayor of Plymouth appeared on the stage, along with competition winner Nadine Hopton and ITV Westcountry's Peter Rowell. Christopher Biggins was amazingly ebullient, considering the weather, and he kept the vibrant atmosphere going. He expressed surpise at the number of people who had turned out in the rain! The lights were duly switched on and everyone got very excited.
After this, the remaining crowd were entertained by some songs from Plym Kids, who delivered a pretty good performance (but must have been freezing in their red T shirts), and a dance show by Beatbreakers.
At the end we strolled around (or rather fought through the masses) to look at the Christmas lights. These looked pretty good on the whole. The Ice Palace looks a bit plasticy in the daytime, but did look impressive all lit up at night - my advice is to take your children there after dark to see Santa, as it will seem a much more magical experience for them. Quite a few shops were open and Drake Circus was packed with people, so the tills should have been ringing.
I felt that, despite the horrendous weather, it was a good start to the Christmas season in Plymouth.
How Many People Does it Take to Light a Bonfire?
6 November 2009
I attended the Bonfire and Firework Night on the Hoe last night with my family and there was a great atmosphere there! We arrived bright and early at 6.00pm to find the fairground rides in full swing, the Heart FM stage broadcasting deafening music, food stalls set up, and quite a few people already milling around.
The War Memorial was lit up with red poppies, Smeaton's tower was bathed in lights that changed colour with the words '250 Years' and The Citadel was glowing with multicoloured floodlights too, creating a fun, celebratory atmosphere.
The comedy moment; This was when at 7.00pm we stood expectantly by the big bonfire with the Guy on top, and watched six people in yellow jackets stand around it. It will go up any minute, we thought. We waited, and waited, and waited... A few more yellow jackets joined the others, making the total nine. Any minute now, we thought, any minute now... But no, nothing happened.
As the crowd got a little restless, we started making silly jokes. 'Maybe they forgot the matches', 'They're having a committee meeting to decide what's the best method to light a bonfire' ('Shall we use matches, a lighter, rub two flints together?'), 'Someone's on his phone, he must be asking someone to bring the matches', etc.
Finally at 7.35 the bonfire burst into flames; the relief from the crowd was palpable! The flames shot higher and higher and the temperature became several degrees warmer, as we started to defrost our faces! Then after half an hour of watching the bonfire, everyone turned to face the Citadel and the first of the fireworks went up with a whoosh and a crackle.
The fireworks were worth waiting for, as bangs and explosions of coloured patterns burst through the night sky and shot around Smeatons Tower. There was a great atmosphere and lots of 'Oohs' and 'Aaaahs' from the good natured crowd. At the end, the crowd burst into spontaneous clapping before dispersing among the fun fair rides.
I thought it was a good evening of entertainment. provided free of charge, against a stunning background. What a great location Plymouth Hoe is for events like this. Thirty thousand people were expected to come. I didn't do a head count, but I've never seen so many people on the Hoe before and yet there was still plenty of room for everyone! The Citadel is such an amazing location for letting off fireworks, and good as the pyrotechnics were in themselves, they looked even more spectacular with the Citadel and Smeaton's Tower in the background.
My family and I had great fun at this event and anyone who didn't come missed out on a great evening out. The people of Plymouth are very lucky to have the Hoe, such a great natural venue for large events. If you didn't come this year, then don't miss out next year!
The Life Centre: Opportunity or White Elephant?
15 October 2009
For those few who may not know, the Life Centre is an outstanding sports and leisure facility to be built in Central Park. It will replace the existing swimming pool and Mayflower Sports Centre and is scheduled to open in autumn 2011.
Costing a staggering 46.5 million pounds, some have questioned where the money will come from, and if there is the justification for such a massive sum to be spent on this one project, when there are other projects which need funding in Plymouth. The issue of ongoing costs has also been raised and the question asked as to whether the Life Centre will become an expensive white elephant in years to come, a kind of Millenium Dome. (This probably isn't the time to say that I quite liked the Millenium Dome, apart from the hour-long queues!).
A recent announcement that 1.99 million pounds is to be given to the project by Sport England is obviously good news. The rest of the cost is to be met by the Council, and a 2.5 million pound contribution from the University of Plymouth.
My view is that The Life Centre has got to be a good thing for Plymouth. The city has lacked ambition in the past and no one can say this project is unambitious! I would rather try for greatness and fail, than accept mediocrity.
Plymouth used to be a bit mediocre, but that is starting to change. Plymouth has the potential to be a great place. The Life Centre is the type of facility that a major city needs in order to be a 'happening' place.
Let's look at what the city would be gaining: a leisure pool, a 50 metre swimming pool, a top diving pool, and dryside training facilities. But it's not just about swimming. The Life Centre would also house an all-weather climbing facility, an 8 rink indoor bowls facility, an 150 station fitness suite, a 12 court sports hall, a health suite oasis, multi-purpose areas, youth gym, squash and training facilites, and a public cafe.
These facilites would be outstanding and will attract top athletes to the city to train. It will also be a great space for Plymothians, and will attract people to move to the city, bringing new skills and new ideas into Plymouth.
Nothing is achieved without a positive attitude and a slight element of risk. The risks are not great, in my opinion, whilst the benefits to Plymouth will be huge.
This project is part of Plymouth's renaissance. Some will always fear change and want to live in the past. But change can bring enormous benefits, and doing the same things for years and years will bring exactly the same results. The real question is, do we want Plymouth to stay the same, or do we want Plymouth to change for the better?
To end on a slightly more trivial note; will The Life Centre be called The Sharron Davies Centre, as was originally decided, or in light of recent events, will it be renamed The Tom Daley Centre?
Could Plymouth Really Host the World Cup?
15 September 2009
A local Consortium is bidding to bring the football World Cup to Plymouth. When I first heard this news I was a bit surprised to be honest, but when I reflected a bit more, I thought 'why not?!'
I'll be frank and say that I don't like football. I've never got it, and too much talk of it tends to make my eyes glaze over. But to my mind this isn't about football; it's about Plymouth.
On the website plymouthworldcupbid.co.uk I read an interesting statistic. Apparently 25% of British holidaymakers come to Devon and Cornwall, but only 8% of overseas holidaymakers come here. The problem is probably that they've never heard of us! Why would they head to London and other predictable destinations if they knew how great Plymouth was.
If Plymouth were to get the World Cup then it would raise the profile of the city exponentially. Not only would all of Britain be talking about Plymouth, but the whole world would be! That sort of publicity is not easy to achieve by normal means.
In addition there would all sort of other benefits, such as improvements to roads and other facilites, which would be of long term benefit to Plymouth. And think of all the money those football fans would spend. When they're not watching football they need to sleep somewhere, and they need other entertainment; our cinemas, restaurants, pubs and hotels would benefit immensely. Plymouth would finally get get it's 5 star hotel! The football fans would benefit from coming here too, because Plymouth is such a friendly and beautiful city. What a treat they have in store for them.
The Plymouth Bid is being supported by many local organisations and figures, notably including Gordon Sparks (Sparksy) host of BBC Devon's Plymouth Breakfast Show.
The Consortium has named the bid 'A Beautiful Setting for the Beautiful Game'. Well, I don't know about a beautiful game, but it would certainly be a beautiful setting, so I think this is a very shrewd title!
Obviously a new and bigger stadium would be needed, but unlike some cities we do have the space. The bid will apparently capitalise upon the green space surrounding the stadium and the compact nature of Plymouth, among other things. I don't want the whole of Central Park to be swallowed up by sports facilites, but it is a big park, and I believe that the benefits to Plymouth would be greater than the loss of a bit of park land.
So although I'm not a football fan I am a Plymouth fan, and if the World Cup is good for Plymouth, then I want it!
Plymouth's Architecture - Interesting or Just Plain Bizarre?
7 September 2009
Recent plans for a new railway station and hotel, commissioned by Plymouth Chamber of Commerce to replace the existing complex, sound very interesting. The existing railway station is fairly mundane, to the point that I can't really remember what it looks like, despite having been there recently.
The architect's virtualisation looks fantastic; an arched glass entrance leading to a modern- looking, largely glass building. The idea of this landmark building is to give visitors to Plymouth a sense that they have 'arrived' somewhere significant , a feeling they certainly won't be getting at the moment.
What do people mean by 'landmark' buildings? If they mean buildings that appear significant or noticeable, then Plymouth has quite a few of those. Some I like and some I think are absolutely awful.
The buildings I approve of include the Royal Bank of Scotland Building on Royal Parade (which has recently been given Grade II listed status by English Heritage).I think this building is quite elegant. The Guildhall, and Plymouth City Museum and Central Library also have a classical kind of charm to them which appeals to me. The Roland Levinsky Building on the other hand is a completely different type of architectural style, being very modern, but I absolutely love this building and think 'wow' every time I catch sight of it. I always look with affection on Charles Church; a beautiful if sadly neglected building, somehow even more beautiful now that it's a shell, and a poignant reminder of the Second World War.
However there are also quite a few buildings in Plymouth which fall into the 'truly hideous' category. I know I'm not alone in disliking the Staples building, a huge, featureless, characterless block.
Drake Circus is another building which is hated by many. The exterior of Drake Circus encapsulates bizarreness. It has so many different styles, materials and patterns on the outside that the eye of the beholder is continually confused. Approaching Drake Circus from Exeter Street is a particularly odd sensation, as behind the magnificent lines of Charles Church, you can see an array of bright orange sails set at a peculiar slant that makes you feel queasy as you drive around the roundabout. Who knows what the architects were thinking of when they came up with that design?
The Civic Centre towers over the City Centre, but not in a good sense. I'm not an admirer of that type of architecture anyway and no one can say that the Civic Centre has stood the test of time, as it is clearly decaying before our eyes. English Heritage listed this monstrosity not long ago and thus jeopardised plans to improve this part of Plymouth.
Bretonside Bus Station is another building characterised by its hideousness. The architecure was never good in my view, but is made worse by the fact that the gloomy, subterranean, nature of the design seems to attract graffitti and tramps in equal measure.
I could go on for much longer but these are just a few examples of the 'landmark' buildings in Plymouth. Some have been built recently and some have been around for years. What they have in common, historic and recent, good and bad, is the astonishing range of architectural styles they encompass.
You couldn't get more diverse styles than that of the Roland Levinsky Building, Drake Circus and the Staples Building. Yet all of these buildings are comparatively recent. Plymouth seems to me to be a mish mash of widely varying architectural styles. Some are exciting and beautiful like the Roland Levinsky Building, some are exciting and horrid like Drake Circus.
There seems to be no overall plan as to how Plymouth should look, no integration or symmetry of styles. Whilst this may make Plymouth look interesting, it is also in danger of making Plymouth look ugly and unfocussed. The proposed new railway complex looks fabulous and I hope that more structures like this will be approved in Plymouth and less like the Staples building.
Plymouth could be a great place, but to be a great place it will need to have great buildings.
A Deathly Hush Falls on Plymouth Streets
3 September 2009
Plymouth streets, shops and supermarkets will be quieter today, as many children go back to school after the long summer holiday and the tourists have gone home.
This is a good thing or a bad thing, depending upon your point of view. Yesterday in the supermarket, when it was as busy as Christmas, it seemed like a good thing! However, overall it seems a bit sad to me as a mum (my house has certainly got a deathly hush with two teenagers and one child now missing all day!). Once the schools start back and the visitors leave, I feel as if the summer is over.
The weather was a bit mixed, but it wasn't a bad summer. There were enough warm sunny days to go to the beach a few times, to saunter along the Hoe with an icecream, to enjoy trips to Looe, Exmouth, Exeter, Dartmoor and other great places. There were opportunities to sit outside and eat or drink at a cafe on the Barbican or in the city centre (I do like all the al-fresco opportunities in Plymouth) or to sit down and watch an outdoor film on the Big Screen in The Piazza. I saw Mr Bean's Holiday the other day and it was great fun.
But all that is at an end now. The children are back at school, those who aren't back today will start early next week. University and College students are starting to arrive in Plymouth, the weather is a little cooler and a whole new autumnal feel is in the air.
So what do we have to look forward to in Plymouth in the autumn? Well, quite a lot actually. The sun is shining today, we can still enjoy warmish weather until October, so can get out and enjoy the Hoe and the Barbican.
There are some good autumn events coming up, such as the Respect Festival, Bonfire and Firework night, Christmas Lights switch on and the West End Christmas Carnival. Coming up even sooner is Navy Days, Rathayatra (The Chariot Festival of Lord Krishna), and Last Night of the Proms on the Big Screen! Check out our What's On In Plymouth page for details of all these events.
In addition, the trees on Armada Way will start to bloom with their autumn colours and if it gets really chilly we can retreat into Drake Circus (we didn't have that option a few years ago).
Once the summer is over we just need to shift our perspective slightly and start to enjoy the delights of autumn in Plymouth. Trust me, they do exist!
An American Visitor to Plymouth
27 August 2009
My teenage daughter announced recently that an American friend she had met on the internet was coming to England this summer, and could she come and stay with us! We hummed and hawed a bit thinking, we've never met this girl or her family, indeed our daughter has never met this girl or her family if it comes to that! Eventually, in a mad spirit of hospitality, we said she could come and stay for two nights and that we would meet her at Plymouth train station.
We felt a little nervous at entertaining a stranger from overseas, after all you hear about weirdos posing as normal people on the internet, but as it turned out, she was a very pleasant nineteen year old girl from New York State.
Our daughter took her out and showed her all the Plymouth landmarks, and took photos of her posing in front of Smeatons Tower, Drake's statue, the War Memorial on the Hoe and the Mayflower Steps. Our new American friend seemed particularly interested in the Mayflower Steps as she said her ancestors sailed to America on the Speedwell (the ship after the Mayflower).
She was also pleased that an American Car and Bike Show was taking place on the Hoe as she is a bit of a petrol head. To top it all, while they were on the Hoe, a Royal Navy helipcopter landed on the Promenade to take a diver with the bends to hospital, as Plymouth Airport was shrouded in cloud! She also liked the Sci Fi shops in Frankfort Gate and spent ages in the Pannier Market looking at the pets and other curiosities there.
I feel that Plymouth pulled out all the stops to entertain our American visitor (apart from the weather which started off with a light drizzle followed by grey and overcast, but she didn't seem to mind!)
The whole visit led me to think about the nature of friendships and how the internet can foster some unsual but pleasant ones. You hear all the horror stories and it's important to be cautious, but the internet has so many wonderful opportunities to interact with new people from all over the world. I also felt delighted that a new person has been introduced to the 'wonders' of Plymouth who may never have come here otherwise!
In that vein, don't forget to join us on Twitter where we have made an enormous number of new friends. We even got a mention on Sparksy's Breakfast Show on Radio Devon this morning because of it!
Flavour Fest Has Got Plymouth Buzzing!
Date: 14 August 2009
I popped into Plymouth Flavour Fest today and found Plymouth absolutely buzzing! There were crowds of people milling about and it was quite difficult to get near some of the stalls because of the press of people!
There were some very tasty food and drinks being showcased, all produced by high quality local companies and farms. On one stall I was able to try some really yummy mackerel pate, which was disappearing much more quickly than the meat pates. On other stalls I tasted chilli and parsley chutney, a mouth-watering mayonnaise, Cornish crisps and a really unusual chilli orange chocolate. One cheese stall was selling a local cheddar which was packed full of flavour and on another stall I enjoyed some delicious country cider. This try before you buy policy certainly seemed to be shifting the produce!
The Cookery Theatre had drawn quite a crowd too and all the action was relayed on the Big Screen, so that you could watch cookery demonstrations from a bit further away as well.
Overall it had a very vibrant atmosphere and as well as a free lunch (well, almost!) I enjoyed wandering around and just looking at all the stalls and the different types of produce. Did you know that there were Cornish crisps and Devonshire tea? I didn't until today. It was definitely worth a visit and reminded me of what a fantastic place for food and drink the Westcountry is. We are so lucky to be surrounded by lush countryside and the sea, which provides the ingredients for all the tasty offerings I saw (and tasted) today.
Plymouth or Exeter - Which Is Better?
Date: 7 August 2009
I went to Exeter for the day yesterday and found it interesting to compare it to Plymouth. Exeter is the capital city of Devon, but Plymouth is bigger. Both have good universities and both have a good quality of life, situated as they are in glorious Devon.
I found myself comparing the Cathedral Green to Plymouth Hoe. The Cathedral Green is a large grassy area in the centre of the city where people meet up, have picnics, and just hang out. The Cathedral is definitely an attraction as it's a magnificent building (although you have to pay five pounds if you want to go in it!), as well as historic buildings, there are some attractive shops, cafes and restaurants (including Michael Caines' restaurant) clustering around the Green and it does have a nice vibe to it.
Plymouth Hoe is also a large green central space where people meet up and hang out. It doesn't have a Cathedral but what it does have is the sea. Now this is pretty hard to beat as an attraction! Sitting on Plymouth Hoe having your picnic looking out over Plymouth Sound, you can watch the boats, the Naval ships and the Brittany Ferry sailing out to France. And then there is Smeatons Tower, Tinside Pool, The Citadel and some very attractive waterfront restaurants. So pleasant as the Cathedral Green is, I think Plymouth Hoe has more to offer.
Then there is Exeter Quay. This is also an attractive location. Shops, cafes, pubs, and restaurants cluster alongside the river, whilst you will find here the historic Customs House with its cannons outside. Canoes, pedalos and bicycles can be hired and I saw lots of families having fun on the water. You can take a two minute trip across the river on Butts Ferry and there are a multitude of swans, ducks and seagulls bobbing about on the river. Butts Ferry is the most pointless ferry I've ever been on as there is a perfectly good bridge just a little further down, but it's just a bit of fun really! Long scenic riverside walks can be taken along the path which also doubles up as a cycle path. It definitely promotes a healthy lifestyle.
The comedy moment; This was when we saw a spaniel chasing seven swans. You've never seen so much flapping and squawking. The spaniel would have come off worse if it hadn't been belatedly summoned by its unobservant owner!
Plymouth's answer to Exeter Quay is The Barbican. The Barbican has Sutton Harbour with its fishing boats, yachts, historic buildings, lots of pubs, restaurants and unusual independent shops, the National Marine Aquarium, the Elizabethan House and Garden and the Merchants House. I mustn't forget the Mayflower Steps from where the Pilgrim Fathers sailed to America in 1620 and founded a new Plymouth. Then there are the many boat trips which can be embarked upon from The Barbican, including the Devonport Dockyard Tour and the Calstock River Tour. So although I enjoyed my day at Exeter Quay and it is well worth a visit, I think The Barbican has the edge on it.
Then there is the shopping. Exeter has Princesshay Shopping Centre and Plymouth has Drake Circus. I like Princesshay, it's a huge improvement on what was there before, but it does have the disadvantage of being mainly outdoors, whilst Drake Circus is all under cover and the shopper is cosily protected from the elements. Exeter also has the Guildhall Shopping Centre but I find this a bit scruffy, and the Harlequins Shopping Centre which is much nicer. However Plymouth has Armada Way which has a less urban feel to it, with its trees, water feature and wide pedestrianised space.
Plymouth also has The Piazza with its big screen which is a wonderful spacious area where people can meet up and where large outdoor events can be held. Plymouth is lucky enough to have two large oudoor spaces which can hold big events, Plymouth Hoe and The Piazza. Both are located centrally and are within walking distance of each other. Exeter only has one large central area and that is the Cathedral Green. Another great asset that Plymouth has is the naval sites which are now vacant and ripe for development. Royal William Yard is partially developed and gives us an insight into how fantastic these sites are going to be when they are finished.
As an interesting aside, I saw James Tanner of Tanners Restaurant on Plymouth Station. Possibly heading off to London to do a tv show?
Overall I think Plymouth has the edge on Exeter. Exeter is well worth a visit and I always enjoy going there for the day. However Plymouth just has more to offer and despite the recession, Plymouth is improving all the time.
Free Events in Plymouth This Summer
Date:27 July 2009
Plymouth has a surprising number of free events happening this summer. Most people assume that events are going to cost them at least a small amount of money, but in the Piazza and around Plymouth generally, there are many performances and gatherings where all you have to do is to turn up and enjoy yourself.
For example, on the weekend just gone there was a classic bus rally on the Hoe and an outdoor drama performance at the Piazza. Even if vintage buses or drama are not to your taste, these happenings pulled a fair crowd of spectators (especially the drama) and there is quite a variety of events coming up, so that most people should find something to their taste.
This coming Saturday there is a Science Fiction Nostalgia day at Frankfort Gate which will feature characters from 'Star Wars', 'Predator' and 'Alien' and will include a fancy dress competition. Whilst on a grander scale, I'm looking foward to The British Fireworks Championships on 11/12 August. The fireworks competition is on every year, is very exciting, and draws thousands of people I am told. I've never been but I'm determined to go this year and see the spectacle for myself.
All these events are listed on inplymouth.com's What's On In Plymouth guide so check frequently to see what's coming up and when you're complaining that there's nothing to do over the summer, you may discover events which are happening right under your nose in our own city centre, and most of which are free to attend.
I intend to take my own advice and attend as many as possible, so watch this space!
The Plymouth Summer Festival is Good for Plymouth
Date: 22 July 2009
The BBC Breakfast News did a news report from Plymouth yesterday morning, so naturally I was interested to see this!
They started off by mentioning the recession and the closure of city centre shops, of course. Plymouth, unfortunately, seems to be one of the places the BBC come to when they want to talk about the effects of the recession!
However after this unpromising start, the report did become fairly positive. The reporter was interviewing David Draffan from The City Centre Company and Liz Lawson of Lawsons ,and both of them were representing Plymouth in a very positive light, I thought. The Big Screen on the Piazza was mentioned as David Draffan pointed out that Wimbledon, the Royal Opera and other entertainments were screened to get people into the city centre. The Plymouth Summer Festival was mentioned and Liz Lawson pointed out that Flavour Fest was coming to Plymouth soon and local businesses were getting involved in this popular foodies event.
Plymouth did sound like a great place to live, with lots of free, fun events to go to, and the cameras showed shots of the tree lined Piazza, so that viewers could see what a fantastic space it is for events.
But, and it's a big but, it was pouring with rain; absolutely bucketing down, and nowhere looks at its best in the rain! When the report went back to the main studio, one of the presenters made an inane remark to the effect that Plymouth wasn't looking too good at the moment, and I thought what a shame that all that good PR was ruined by the weather.
However, it wasn't a complete waste. Plymouth did sound like there's a lot going on here, the representatives of Plymouth were articulate and enthusiastic about the place, and the Summer Festival is clearly a good thing for Plymouth, as it brings all the events together under one umbrella and makes it easy to sell Plymouth as a really buzzing place!
Which Is Greener? Country Life or City Life?
Date: 2 June 2009
People who want to live a greener life often move to the country, raise chickens, grow their own vegetables and take part in country life generally.
But, is it really greener to live in the country? I would argue that it may not be. People who want to be really green should live in the city.
For example, I live in Plymouth. I can walk into the city centre in half an hour. I can walk to the swimming pool or the local shops and school in 10 to 15 minutes. If I'm too lazy to walk, there is a bus stop at the end of my road with a bus running every 10 minutes.
As a result, and because I'm not lazy :-), I tend to walk to most places that I go to. This means one less car on the road, less money spent on petrol, less carbon emissions, and I don't need to spend money going to the gym because walking keeps me fit.
For most people I know who live in the country, however, it is a very different story. They live in the splendid countryside, but because they are a little geographically isolated, because they are not so well served with public transport as us city folk, they are very reliant upon their cars.
As a result they tend to drive everywhere. Well, they may walk to the local pub or the village shop, but if they want to go to the supermarket, buy clothes, go to the swimming pool, the cinema, to visit a friend, or get their child to school, then it often means they have to jump in their car.
Well, I don't need to point out the consequences of that, (but I will anyway!), even those who don't drive 4 by 4's are using significant amounts of petrol, clogging up the roads and giving off carbon emissions.
I'm not getting at country folk, everyone has a right to live where they choose and lead the lifestyle they use. But should people automatically assume that it is greener to live in the countryside? Maybe they shouldn't.
Is Plymouth too Remote to be Successful?
Date: 27 April 2009
Some companies consider Plymouth to be geographically remote and are reluctant to base resources somewhere that is considered to be in a peripheral location. As a result Plymouth is very dependant upon it's University, Derriford Hospital and Devonport Dockyard.
Which makes all the media reports about the Dockyard's uncertain future, particularly unsettling for the people of Plymouth. I hope that the Dockyard will retain enough work to avoid redundancies, but that is out of our hands to some extent.
However there is one aspect in which, Plymouth's perceived remoteness is not a disadvantage, in fact it could even be considered an attraction. And that is tourism.
People are extremely willing to travel to remote locations for their holidays. After all if people are happy to travel to Mexico for a break (although that won't be happening for much longer!)then they can hardly think that Plymouth is too far away!
When people go on holiday they want to get as far away as possible from home, so that they can forget all their worries and relax completely. They want nothing to remind them of work, the gas bill, the children's homework, etc.
However people are also concerned about cost at the moment. They want to get as far away as possible, but they don't want to spend a fortune on their holiday.
This is where Plymouth comes into its own. Remote enough to get away from it all and yet not so remote that travel costs are astronomical. No tricky exchange rates to worry about, no airport delays, no lost luggage. Just jump in your car and drive down to Plymouth.
Plymouth has a real holiday feel to it in the summer, especially with the Summer Festival about to start, kicking off with the Barbican International Jazz and Blues Festival (I can't wait for that!). Sunshine, sea air, boats, traditional pubs, live jazz and beautiful beaches and moorland just a few minutes away.
Is Plymouth too remote? Well yes and no!
Summer is Coming at Last
Date: 22 April 2009
Summer feels like it has finally come this week! Well, we didn't have a summer last year and we've had a long cold winter, so the sunshine feels particularly welcome this year.
I like Plymouth in the summer. I'll be honest and say that Plymouth can be a little bleak in the winter. Balmy sea breezes in the summer translate into arctic blasts in the winter, which is why Drake Circus is so great to dive into in the winter and get out of that cold wind.
But Plymouth is just great in the summer. You feel like you're on holiday. The grass verges sparkle, the palm trees make you feel like you're somewhere exotic (like Cannes, or the Bahamas), the flowers are bright (Plymouth puts on some nice flower displays at this time of year, I particularly like the one they do on the Hoe which has a ship or some such thing) and if you catch a glimpse of the sea then you think 'whoo hoo, this is the right place to be'.
I lived in London for 7 years and that can be fairly bleak in the winter too. All those grey pavements and depressed-looking people, but in the summer it's actually worse. Hardly a tree, grass verge or flower in sight, unless you are lucky enough to live in Hampstead. The few bits of greenery that do exist in London look tired and sooty, and the pavements and buildings exude heat, they literally bake in the sunshine. You feel desperate for the sight of something green and refreshing, but unless you have time to travel to a park (and that could take some time, traffic being what it is), then you probably won't find any!
Now compare that with Plymouth. We have grass and trees everywhere. From many parts of the city you can see green hills. There are plentiful flower displays that haven't been vandalised. You can nip up to the Hoe, have a sit down on the grass and actually see the sea. None of this will cost you a penny. It can't get much better than that can it?
Plymouth is a Great Base for a Day Out
Date: 10 April 2009
We had a family day out at Tintagel yesterday, and on the journey home it occurred to me what a handy base Plymouth is for a day out.
I can thoroughly recommend Tintagel. I hadn't been there for about 20 years (is it really that long?) so only had a vague memory of what it was like, but it has a lot to offer a family. An atmospheric ruined castle overlooking the sea (could it really be Camelot?), a sandy beach with caves, and lots of gift shops, pubs and cafes (all with a Camelot/King Arthur theme!) Tintagel was so easy to get to, just pop over the Tamar Bridge and drive for about an hour and there you are.
There are plenty of other places that you can get to from Plymouth for a day out, and this morning I've been making a mental list of all the places I haven't been to for ages which I'd like to visit this summer. Among them are the Eden Project which I haven't visited since it was brand new and shiny, the Tate at St Ives which I have yet to visit (that's been on my list for a long time), St Michael's Mount, Looe and Polperro, Salcombe and Clovelly.
The list could go on a lot longer but I don't want to bore you! I know people like to have a break away from home, but when you live in Plymouth you have so many great day trips to choose from, it seems silly to want to go anywhere else! The whole of Devon and Cornwall is at your disposal and you can easily be home for tea. Now that is pretty cool.
Plymouth is in the Top Ten
Date: 27 March 2009
Fantastic news for Plymouth is that is has been voted among the top ten tourist destinations in Britain by 'Which? Holiday' publican. The magazine stated that Plymouth 'is the perfect destination for anyone wanting to combine a city break with an escape to the country'. It also commented that Plymouth 'is completely undervalued as a tourist destination, despite having so much to offer'.
Why is Plymouth so undervalued? When you tell people you come from Plymouth they tend to look rather blank, and the next thing you know, they are asking you when you are going back to Portsmouth. No it's Plymouth. Plymouth clearly is not very good at marketing itself as only the people who actually live here seem to know what a great place it is. Maybe this new accolade from 'Which? Holiday' magazine will give Plymouth some of the publicity and recognition it desperately needs.
Tourism already brings a lot of money into Plymouth, but the city could benefit from a whole lot more. But Plymouth needs to gear up to this new status and make sure that tourists have the great holiday they deserve when they come here. That way they will come back and tell all their friends what a wonderful place Plymouth is. Why do we want more tourists clogging up our streets? Because they bring money with them which ends up in our pockets. Also it's kind of flattering if people want to come here, after all we're lucky enough to enjoy it all the year round.
About the Author:
Lynne has lived in Plymouth for nearly 20 years, and wouldn't live anywhere else.
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