Grand Turk – Captured of Southsea (2005) where she was participating in Trafalgar 200
Tag: Southsea
STS Mir
STS Mir – Russian sail training ship.
Captured of Southsea (2005) where she was participating in Trafalgar 200
Dar Młodzieży
Dar Młodzieży – Polish sail training vessel. Captured off Southsea (2005) where she was participating in Trafalgar 200
Pilot Vessel SD Solent Racer
Captured off Southsea
A770 Glycine
French Patrol / Training Vessel – Captured off Southsea, England
Where Are We ?
At around 09:30, on a very drizzly Saturday morning, I was waiting on Copnor Road, Portsmouth. Waiting to turn into the car park associated with the Tesco petrol station. In actual fact I was waiting for two under dressed lads to walk across the entrance. Having parked up and entered the store, grabbed two cartons of milk I headed to the cash desk. The two lads had obviously turned about and they now cut off my approach to the cash desk.
Both lads were clasping bottles of water and were looking decidedly the worse for wear and somewhat bedraggled, having no jackets or coats. The conversation went something like this…..
Lad: (With embarrassed laugh) …”Where are we ?”
Me: “Wow, you must have had a great night.”
Lad: “Seriously, where are we ?”
Me: “You’re in Copnor”
Cashier: (Speaking slowly and clearly enunciating as if for a foreign visitor) “This….is…..Copnor…. Road” as he gestured outside.
Lad: “We are from Portsmouth, we know that Copnor is near North End”
Me: “(Thinking that North End is their destination and indicating the nearby cross-roads) “If you turn right at the lights that road will take you to North End”
Lad: “We don’t want to go there”
Me: “So where are you trying to get to ?”
Lad: “We live in Southsea”
The cashier and I gave directions and the two lads set off, once again, on their journey home.
Some questions spring to mind.
- Why did we pass up a golden opportunity to prank these guys ?
After all they had no idea where they were. We could have sent them north, out of the city. If we had they could still be walking. - How can you live in Portsmouth yet not know where you are ?
Portsmouth is an island of only 15 square miles. Approximately 4 miles in length (North to South) by around 3 miles wide. - Where was my invite to the party ?
South Parade Pier At Risk
South Parade Pier’s owners face liquidation over unpaid energy bills. The danger is if the owners of the pier have to close it down due to lack of income then the real rot will set in. All the while the pier is in active use there is a chance for it to be maintained and refurbished. As soon as the usage declines then so does the state of repair.
Everyone knows that these structures are expensive to maintain due to the harsh, salty and damp environment that they are in. There must be an argument for Portsmouth City Council or even Hampshire County Council stepping in and providing some degree of subsidy to ensure that South Parade Pier doesn’t go the way of Hastings and Brighton piers.
Seaside piers are part of our heritage. Many have succumbed to extreme weather, arsonists and old age. We almost lost South Parade Pier a few years ago, no thanks to Ken Russel and his crew who were filming Tommy at the time. We don’t want that to happen again.
Its time for local government or even national government to step in.
Local Forums looking into community bid for South Parade Pier
I should like to wish the Eastney Neighbourhood Forum, and the East Southsea Neighbourhood Forum, the best of luck with their proposed bid to raise funds to enable them to take over the ownership and running of South Parade Pier.
Per my previous post and previous articles in The News, the pier is in dire need of some TLC and some innovative management to make it a viable and profitable business.
Forum looking into community bid for South Parade Pier – Environment – Portsmouth News.
Southsea Pier Safety – The Unbalanced View
How can you ban the general public from the pier on safety grounds but then still allow anglers access
Surely it is either safe or unsafe.
Or does the couple of quid charged to the anglers really make everything all right ?
Its time that some form of national funding was put in place to ensure the survival of the many piers around our coastline. They are part of our heritage. I would hate to see Southsea Pier go the same way that other piers, such as those of Brighton and Hastings Piers.
Southsea Pier has so far withstood the ravages of time and also Ken Russell’s attempt during the filming of the movie version of The Who’s Tommy.
Outcry as public barred from pier over safety fears – Local – Portsmouth News.
Scaffolding collapses on to six vehicles in Southsea – Local – Portsmouth News
Given the winds that are battering Hampshire at the moment it’s hardly surprising that some folks are experiencing some damage to property. Having jst heard about this I am pleased that nobody was hurt.
RESIDENTS have told of their shock after scaffolding attached to a hotel collapsed and crushed six cars.
High winds tore the structure from the side of the Best Western Royal Beach Hotel, in St Helen’s Parade, Southsea, causing the scaffolding to crash on to vehicles in Alhambra Road.
Part of the hotel’s balcony also came down with the scaffolding.
Luckily no one was hurt in the incident, which happened at about 8am today. The four storey, 120 bed roomed hotel, is fully booked.
Apparently help was on hand.
A group of firefighters from across the country who were staying at the hotel for a training course were immediately on scene to see if they could be of any assistance.
Scaffolding collapses on to six vehicles in Southsea – Local – Portsmouth News.
WrAnTz 