New Travelodge and Starbucks Development Sparks Controversy in Skegness
A hotelier in Skegness has expressed his concerns over the ongoing construction of a new Travelodge and Starbucks drive thru on South Parade, which he claims is causing disruptions to his business and negatively impacting the town.
Vibrations from Construction Cause Disruption
Adam Steadman, owner of the Lakeside Hotel, has reported that the vibrations from the construction work are so strong that guests have complained of ornaments falling off window sills. He said: "Since they've started, the vibrations have been very disruptive for everyone. I'm a heavy sleeper but it wakes me up. A lot of the people who are residential here are not impressed."
Fears for the Future of Skegness
Mr Steadman fears that the development will have a long-term negative impact on the town, saying: "It has affected us in a negative way but we won't really understand the massive impact it will have on us until five or 10 years later."
Tourism in Skegness is reportedly down this year, with Mr Steadman attributing this to the decline of the town. He said: "I wasn't planning on leaving this building until I was about 55. We didn't have any reason to believe we'd be threatened by other businesses or that Skegness would go down."
Developer Responds to Concerns
Daren Burney, managing director of Burney Group, has responded to Mr Steadman's concerns, saying: "We are on a programme to deliver for June 2025. I can assure you that the scheme is being built out in accordance with the planning consent."
Mr Burney acknowledged that there may be some disruption during the early phase of construction but assured that the contractors are working to minimize any inconvenience to neighbors.
He also highlighted the positive response