The owner of a popular Isle of Wight attraction has lamented the sudden closure of a public footpath — and only free access route to his business — over fears it could lose him vital footfall.
The Isle of Wight Council closed the public right of way down to Alum Bay last week over safety concerns, as previously reported by Island Echo. It leaves only the iconic pay-to-use Needles Chairlift to access the multi-coloured sands of Alum Bay and the Needles Pleasure Cruises — which takes customers out and around the lighthouse.
Needles Pleasure Cruises owner, Peter Lemonious, has said the closure is understandable but fears the cost implication of coming down to the beach may put some people off. To access the bay now via chairlift would cost a return ticket of £8 for an adult or £6 for a child. Mr Lemonious says the pleasure cruise’s trade relies on Alum Bay and people coming down.
Due to erosion, one set of steps and a landing near the beach have dropped and currently have insufficient support underneath. The council has said it is regrettable the steps have had to close but the safety of the public has to be its priority and current repair costs are being assessed.
As the land is yet to stabilise the authority has been unable to start the work and has said the access could be closed until the end of spring. Mr Lemonious has not spoken to the council but agrees it makes sense for the authority to wait to do the work as erosion is always inevitable over the winter. He is disappointed, however, that it had to happen at this time of year when the holiday trade is just about to start.
The chairlift has reopened in the last few days and the boat tours started again today (Saturday).
Mr Lemonious has said he is thankful it is only the start of the season but laments it is the first real holiday of the year and it is a shame that dogs or small children will not be able to reach the beach. He adds that it is rather disappointing for those families who come to the Needles hoping to see the sands, ride the boat or enjoy Alum Bay.
My suggestion. Repair it yourself then charge the council…
Why Carrie the council. Fix it earn money. Get on with it
Or, Mr Lemonious could do a deal with the owners of the chairlift to do a combined chairlift and boat ride offer?
Knock a few quid off the combined price to get more people down there. I’m sure, as some of the boat rides are around the £15 mark for a 15-minute ride, there’s room for manoeuvre on the price?
Totally agree with Catherine cut the greed and get them repaired
Pathetic, in my younger years I climbed over all terrains in Scotland, all VERY dangerous, open to ALL.
Like way that Alum Bay advertising as free entry, when you have to pay car park, food and all the rides and activities and £8 for rtn on an old (built in 1970s) chair lift. Can carry a thousand people an hour !. So after staff costs and electric they are making good money. As with steps it’s a public footpath that goes down onto sands, wasn’t built for this chaps boat trip, also emergency route for people when chair lift breaks down.
“STEPS CLOSURE AT ALUM BAY IMPERILS LOCAL SIGHTSEEING BUSINESS”
but puts more in the Needles Pleasure Park coffers!
(You have to pay to use the lift)
Maybe council getting brown envelope from needles park to not reopen steps?. Half a million visitors plus a yr could be a winner.
Perhaps he can do a deal with the chairlift people for a discounted combined ticket, so punters can get the double thrill of a cable car and boat trip around the needles.
Tho I’m sure he’s thought of that!
NEEDLESs to say repairs to steps to see the Island’s top tourist attraction should have some sort of priority.
Council aren’t concerned for they know they will get thousands a year in council tax from all the breeding hutches being built here.
Even though 70% of the occupants of the ruination of our Island will avoid paying much or no c.tax at all, being single muvers, elderly, unemployed, and mentally or physically disabled and so won’t be paying the council tax themselves, Central Government does, so the council still get their full money even from the freeloaders.
Hence the Council not bothered about keeping businesses afloat, as building more homes is less fuss, just a standing order, and certain payment for them to have more pay, more expenses, more electric cars and huge early pensions.
Always the same thinly veiled right wing comments from you.
Doesn’t seem to matter what the article is about it’s the same rhetoric
.
I can guarantee that the chairlift owners only care about profit, they run that park on a shoe string budget for max profit, and that is all they are concerned with. Look at the tatty state the park has been in for years.
But if you walked from Totland beach you could get there for free
Unfortunately the steps are Island Roads problem and we all know what that means, 3 months of head scratching, 3 months of site visits by numerous daft people with white helmets on then a repair attempt by the end of summer. In reality, this repair could be completed in a few days…. don’t hold your breath though. Given the huge amount of use these steps get in the nicer months and the associated cash injection into the islands economy, this repair should be a priority.
Don’t worry. I’ll have a chat with Rishi. He’s always got a spare few million knocking about to help his mates get more votes.