Fathom and Blues

[divingdale]

Hi to all BSAC forum members

Knowing the dive community and the incredible jungle-drum network I thought I'd try and be the first to get the news out.

Yes, F&B are moving. Our lovely new landlords have decided they don't want a bunch of smelly divers mucking up their lovely building! Actually not entirely true, what they want is shed loads of money. Sadly way, way more than we can afford. So we are busy packing and will be moving into new accommodation.

Now this is the tricky bit. Although we have somewhere to move to immediately we haven't tied down all the little details yet. So right now this minute I can't tell you where we'll be, other than to say it will be in Portland - oh, and on the sea obviously! BUSINESS WILL BE AS NORMAL FROM 1st FEB, it just won't be here at the Boscawen Centre.

Please bear with us. I'll post again and do all the emaily, IT websitey things as soon as I can confirm the details.

In the meantime, a massive thanks to all of those who have offered or given their help. Keep calling and keep diving!

Cheers
Dale

[Adrian Kelland]

Thanks Dale.

Loads of money - preparing for the Olympics perhaps...

Adrian

[divingdale]

Got it in a onner Adrian. The golden egg which is going to hatch as poo! Call me bitter and twisted if you like!

[Falco]

I fear F & B won`t be the only ones hit by greedy landlords hoping to make a killing out of the Olympics. Whilst Plymouth has gone out of it`s way to make the area watersports friendly, Weymouth and Portland Council hav`nt done much to improve services.

A few years ago we had the debacle with Portland Port Ltd trying to price divers out of diving in the harbour area. Now it`s going to be the spectacle of the Olympic Games and profiteering hanging over hard pressed watersports providers.

Still, in 2013, when the yachtsmen have ****ed off back to Falmouth and Cowes, the rowers back to Henley and the divers to Devon and Corwall, no doubt Weymouth and Portland Council will be touting for buisnesses to return.

A great shame. I was born in Weymouth and love the place dearly

[Adrian Kelland]

It'll be interesting to see how people get there if they don't get the bypass built...

[divingdale]

Bypass? True it's meant to be happening, but no sign of it yet... 4 years to go! What's going to be even more interesting is what's going to happen in 2013. Is Portland going to a second Dome?

[Adrian Kelland]

Bypass? True it's meant to be happening, but no sign of it yet... 4 years to go! What's going to be even more interesting is what's going to happen in 2013. Is Portland going to a second Dome?
Loads of cheap high quality diver accomodation?

Well someone will have to want to use it. They might get international sailing competions every now and again, but what else is there? May as well stay in Weymouth else that single road from Portland will be a nightmare...

[Gareth]

As a branch we have been diving in Portland a minimum of once a year, normally twice, (not including individual trips,) since I started diving, which is now in excess of 15 years.

In that time I have seen Portland go from being ignored by Weymouth to a cash cow.

I have also seen Portland grow in popularity to Plymouth's detriment. The Syclla has had a positive effect for Plymouth & stoped the decline. If Weymout/Portland are not carefull the legasy of the Olympics will be a significant reduction in divers in Portland & Weymouth, which will be a significant effect on the income the area recieves. Your average beach visitor will buy an ice cream, your average diver hires boats, stays the weekend, dines out, makes use of the local hostelry's, buy's a few shiney things prior to returning home, a significant difference in money spent in the area.

This year a seriously considered moving our start of year trip form Portland to Plymouth, I can now see me doing this for 2009! A refocus of our diving from Plymouth in preference to Portland.

Gareth

[Gerbil]

Is Portland going to a second Dome?

What? Turn in to one of London's premier music/events venue?

[Adrian Kelland]

What? Turn in to one of London's premier music/events venue?
Portland Rock instead of Portland Stone? :D

Dreadful I know.

[Andy (treerat)]

Originally Posted by divingdale
Bypass? True it's meant to be happening, but no sign of it yet... 4 years to go! What's going to be even more interesting is what's going to happen in 2013. Is Portland going to a second Dome?

I grew up in Weymouth and completed my GCSE geography course work on the proposed by pass, and that was in 1988 / 1989. The outcome then was that Weymouth's traffic problems couldn't be assessed until it was built.

I was working on farms in the area that had their land compulsory purchased in the same year but as yet we're still waiting!!
Andy