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news
Watch House Garden Tynemouth.pngC2C cycle hub mothballed as thousands object to plans
Developers have conceded defeat and withdrawn plans for a cycle cafe and shop to greet weary riders who have completed the 140-mile C2C Ride.
Brothers Josh Boyle and Mark Maitland, and their friend Gareth Reece were seeking planning permission for the site, which they said would be a huge improvement on the current finish line - a car park with a totem pole.
The new Watch House Garden was to include a cafe, shop, roof-top garden and viewing terrace as well as facilities for riders such as showers, lockers and service points.
But as we reported last week, more than 3,000 people objected to the plans, saying that it would cause traffic and disruption in the area.
Josh Boyle, project director, told the Evening Chronicle: “The plan has been withdrawn. We are not making any further comment at this stage.”
Bill Corrigan, chairman of the Friends of the Spanish Battery group said: “I am delighted the scheme has been withdrawn and I would like to thank all the people who have supported our campaign.
“We hope the developer has listened to the strong opposition from locals and will now drop their plans for commercial development at the Spanish Battery completely and not simply come back with a revised scheme.
“We have said all along that we are not anti-cyclist, in fact we are pro-cyclist. All we say is that the Spanish Battery is the wrong place and the cycle hub should be developed in a location where there is commercial activity.
“We have already said we are happy to work with the council and cycling groups who are drawing up a cycling strategy for North Tyneside and we have suggested several alternatives for the location of a cycle hub in Tynemouth and at North Shields Fish Quay which is with a regeneration area.”
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11 comments
Because that wouldnt fit with the «cyclists vs the rest of the world» narrative that seems to be the agenda pushed around here.
As i stated in the earlier article, i live in Tynemouth and this project would have been brilliant for the area. Not just for cyclists, of which there are boat loads passing this spot every day, but also for the general public who walk along the river to the coast, people out with their dogs and people who generally want to just sit and look at the view.
Yes it had an application for an alcohol licence, but only till 9pm, just like many other cafe / restaurants in the area and beyond. It was not a pub / bar and anyone who thinks it would be frequented as such is sadly mistaken.
There are no facilities for cyclists in Tynemouth and this would have been brilliant.
It will be interesting to see what comes out from this though as there are certain points which will no doubt raise quite a few eyebrows and possibly cost jobs should they emerge.
A cafe would be good, but it seems like they were planning a fair bit more than that.
Plenty of cyclists do the Dunwich Sunrise, and by the beach it's just a cafe and a shingle car park. The pub/hotel is a few hundred metres back from the beach along with the village. Seems like this project was a massive overdevelopment.
I find it interesting that you can't actually see the Sea in the photo of the proposed hub for the end of the c2c. Poorly composed photo given the context.
I thought it was previously pointed out there are not sufficient cyclists riding the route to make this a viable business and therefore the cyclist hub is more likely some form of Trojan horse proposal.
+1
Actually the feeling locally was that the whole "cycle hub" concept was a convenient way to add sustainability and environmentally friendly labels to the scheme and that in fact this was an attempt to create an unrelated venue/dining/party space which would operate well outside the hours that anyone would be arriving on a c2c ride. This was a second or third iteration of the plans from the developers, none of the previous ones mentioned cycling at all.
Given that the last few miles of the route is not exactly barren for high quality cycling cafes (Cycle Hub on Newcastle quayside and the famous Pedalling Squares near the metrocentre to name but two) and the alternative ending in Sunderland has the fabulous Fausto cafe right there, I dont think there was much justification for this, especially in what is a quiet and laid-back spot.
Having finished the c2c a few times in Tynemouth I can also vouch for the fact there are at least 20 options for food beer and coffee within a few minutes ride from the end.
nice bit of context for this story, cheers
Agreed. Sounds like the developers atttempted a bit of green washing.
Nice context for this, thank you.
@road.cc why does this sort of context not come out in your reporting, and we only learn it from a comment on one of your articles?
Well if I ever do the C2C I shall be making sure that I don't spend a penny in this area. If they don't want cyclists they obviously don't want our patronage or money.
Keep going another mile or two up the coast (NCN Route 1) and plenty of places to welcome you in Whitley Bay!