Tourism
It is estimated that approximately
180.000 come to Charmouth annually. The majority of the staying visitors are
spread between four major caravan sites, one at either end of the village and
two within close proximity to residential development. Caravan parks have
extended their opening season, catering for static and touring caravans and
camping. It is difficult to measure the benefits to Charmouith’s economy from
tourism. A number of amenities within the village have closed while the
amenities within caravan parks have extended. Over the years there has been a
decline in the availability of bed/breakfast establishments and hotels.
A survey into the number of second
homes, holiday lets and self-catering establishments is to be carried out.
There will be extensive advertising
from the County with the World Heritage Site Designation to encourage more
affluent visitors to take out of season breaks in West Dorset. This will
necessitate the provision of higher quality accommodation within the village.
The survey indicates that 86% of
households believe Charmouth depends on tourism, 68% welcome the influx of
visitors, 61% support encouraging tourism, whole 39% think it should remain at
the present level.
Responses T5: 107
If you have answered (yes) to
encouraging an increase in tourism to Charmouth how do you think this may be
best achieved in away that could be acceptable to the village.
?
Improve the beach
café, open toilets in Lower Sea Lane they are vital amenities.
?
Introduce educational
courses at the school during the holidays on the subjects relevant to the World
Heritage Site.
?
The coastal paths need
to be reopened, this is Charmouth’s greatest asset.
?
Improve the facilities
at the Heritage Coast Centre.
?
Allow dogs on the
beach all year.
?
A Charmouth web site
?
There is a need for
B/B and hotels, no more caravans.
?
If there is to be more
tourists they should be encouraged to come out of season.
?
Don’t let us become
like Lyme Regis we should offer something different.
While the greater majority welcomes
tourism there is concern that the increase in the number on visitors may destroy
the very thing that Charmouth has to offer. A balance needs to be maintained.
Over three quarters of the replies considered that the greatest pressures would
be on the natural environment and parking.
Of the various forms of holiday
accommodation.
It was felt by the numbers indicated
that there were more than enough static caravans and camping facilities, there
could be a small rise in the amount of letting accommodation. But there is a
need for more bed and breakfast establishments and more hotel accommodation.
35% considered that improvements
should be made to the quality of accommodation while 46% had no opinion.
General comments on Tourism : 47
?
There should be higher
quality accommodation with “quality tourist?
?
Respect for the
environment, develop educational tourism
?
Parking and public
toilets need to be improved.
?
Charmouth’s character
will be lost with more tourists.
?
Caravans are a blot on
the landscape
?
There will be
increased pressures on the roads and the services for which residents will have
to pay.
?
Parking at the playing
fields it’s a wonderful place
?
People only come here
on holiday to see what properties they can buy to invest
Foreshore Responses 90
?
The beach and front
should be cleaned more often.
?
The café should be
improved.
?
The later changes to
the front are a improvement.
?
More litter bins
should be provided, more regular beach cleans.
?
Access to west beach
should be improved.
?
Toilets in Lower Sea
Lane should be made to reopen.
?
Car parking over
priced.
?
Enforce the dog bans.
?
More colour, the beach
huts are drab.
?
What happened to the
winch
?
The marsh is an
eyesore, litter and rats.
?
Dogs should be allowed
on one of the beaches all the time.
Playing Fields Responses 56
?
Provide parking.
?
Allow camping in the
second field.
?
Enforce the dog ban.
?
More benches/picnic
tables.
?
It is well maintained
?
Where is the slide
gone?
?
Improve the putting.
?
Improve the changing
facilities.
?
Open longer.
Other areas of the Village
Responses : 41
?
It is a lovely village
but being spoilt by to much speculative building.
Do we have the amenities for
all these houses? We need houses for locals
?
We need good hotels
and restaurants.
?
The street could do
with a clean up once in a while; more litter bins; get rid of over-hanging.
cables.
?
Holiday homes should
pay full council tax and be charged for their litter.
?
There should be
flowers at the approaches to the village and the centre should be brighten up
with plants and seats, a need for car parking.
?
The Parish Council
does not listen to the village; some have been on to long.
?
Error not to have a
regular parish church member on the appraisal committee
?
Dog fouling is not by
visitor’s dogs: when is there to be enforcement? Where are the police?
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