Will Littlehampton soon be home to the world's biggest bucket and spade?

[Gary Marlowe]

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Yes, you read it right, it seems that a huge bucket and spade could soon be joining the Longest Bench and East Beach Cafe on East Beach. 

Plans have been submitted to convert the former Coastguard's Tower into a one bed holiday apartment. Like me, you may not even be aware that the tower is empty and not owned by either the Coastguards or the Town Council. The building of course is pretty small, so they're planning to extend it at the rear and also put a wind turbine on the roof.  But the big talking point will be the design for an adjacent bin and bike store which will be shaped like a bucket and spade. To be made of steel, according to the plans the spade itself will be 4 metres high (that's over 13 feet!)

You can take a look at the plans on Arun's site. The application reference number is LU/247/10/

Here's a link to the elevation featuring the bucket and spade http://bit.ly/bDMnmQ 

By the way, comments on this project need to be submitted by 30 September.

[fliss]

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they are going to let the coastguard tower be a holiday apartment with a giant bucket and spade? ha ha! that just sounds bizarre!!!!!!!! well... at least it is quirky i guess?

[Gary Marlowe]

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Well, it seems like approval's been granted to convert the coastguard's tower into a holiday home and to build what is being billed as the world's biggest bucket and spade.

You can read more about it here http://bit.ly/alqhGo

Following the fiasco of falling well short of creating the World's Longest Bench, I hope someone has checked just how big a bucket and spade has to be to claim the title of the world's biggest.

And looking at the state the Longest Bench itself is in, I think they should replace the world's biggest spade with the world's biggest mop!

[cassie]

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Oh no, here we go again, when will the residents of LA have respite from this embarrassment. 


                                                 

[jim]

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What next? The world's biggest sandcastle? The world's largest can of Special Brew? That would go down well.

[stoatsngroats]

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Oh dear -  I feel I should apologise for my dissent, I think that the bench is a worthwhile project, and that perhaps the 'Bucket and Spade' may be too.

Whilst they are not necessarily the kinds of projects I would introduce, at least SOMETHING is being brought forward to make people visit the town!
I have an acquaintance in Hastings, and she was interested in the project as soon as it was published, and she said that it would provoke her into visiting the town with her family - which she did; they all enjoyed the day.
I understand that costs may be being borne by us taxpayers, but that's a part of life; I dont agree with some roads being resurfaced whilst my local road is STILL badly damaged - (I'm in Wick, by the way!) It's part of the estate, and it's obviously not a priority, but hey - that's life!

Is there any chance of perhaps looking at what positives these projects may provoke,  rather than being negative, and assuming that anything 'new' is always nonsensical, and wasteful?

[Ancient P.]

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  Yeh! Always look on the bright side of life de-do, de-do-de-do-de-do.... . Ancient P.

[jim]

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I did have some ideas on the "world's largest" front.

First, paint the gas works to be the world's largest baked beans can. Heinz could be approached to sponsor.

Next Kingsmere (the hideous tower block on the front) could be decorated as the world's largest Jenga tower.

The dome near the swimming pool could be the world's largest scoop of ice-cream.

Any other local buildings which could be re-purposed in this way?

[stoatsngroats]

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@AP - thanks for your support, Abingdon AP! 

Hi Jim,
That's just the kind of thinking this town needs - 'Jenga Kingmere'  is just a wonderful idea! (But be careful about calling it 'hideous' Jim, people live there, and that kind of talk just begins the perception of deterioration!)

Best to you both!
SnG (AP - this has been the accepted reduction of my nom-de-plume!) 

[jim]

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I certainly didn't mean to upset any residents of Kingmere, but they do at least have the consolation of the lovely view! It's better to live in an ugly building than to live next to one.