Let It Go

This photograph shows the facade of the former Royal Playhouse Cinema, here in Tenby. It also demonstartes to me, in a way, where the town is at the moment. I know we should hold on to our heritage, but to this is a step to far for goodness sake. To precariously prop up this old building shows a desperatiion to hold on to the past and not be brave enough to grasp the nettle and look bravely to the future.
Take this down, strip away the old and let someone design an exciting forward looking building that Tenby can be proud of. After all it is on one of the most prominent sites in the town and a statement building here would be superb for all to see.
Yes we all have memories of the antics that we got up to when the cinema was popular and busy, we all remember the long queues of holiday makers, in the rain, waiting for the mattinee to start.
Where is the benefit to Tenby of clinging on to this relic?
Let a new design interpret what was there in a new and modern design idea. One that will create a new heritage for the future.
The town itself needs to restructure itself to move forward in this new world that is ever changing and we must change or die.
I'm typing this on a bleak Saturday afternoon, looking out of my office at a small army of visitors who, quite frankly look completely fed up!
It's to cold for the beach, although some hardy folk have ventured onto the sand and castles are being built.
But what is there for the visitor to this beautiful and historic walled town to do? Apart from eat, drink and wander in and out of bucket shops...a generalisation, but you know what I mean. No I don't have the answers, but somebody does, of that I am sure.
Commercially the levels of rents and rates are so high that it is putting off those with new business ideas to even consider places like Tenby.
The town needs a plan, in needs to re invent itself, build on its strengths and at the same time develop new innovative ideas to drive it forward to appeal to a wider range of customer/visitor.
Surely there must be money sloshing around in the European coffers that can tapped into, erybody else seems to getting handouts and grants for the craziest of schemes.
Tenby has so much to offer, from its history, to its fabulous beaches, cobbled streets and stunning skyline....but we need to promote, market and develop the town with a more modern approach. Dare I suggest that a joint venture to promote both Tenby and Saundersfoot could be a consideration, or is that far to radical! We need to climd out of our comfort zone and start to think outside the box...and other such cliches.
Stop the infighting and use the combined strength to move the town to the forefront of the holiday industry in Wales.