Make sure you're sitting down, as I'm afraid this will be a nasty shock!
Firstly, Richard Bates (Butlin's Managing Director) will be leaving Butlin's to take up a newly created post with Haven for 2011. I understand his replacement to be a Dermott King (sorry if that's not spelt correctly or if the name is wrong but that's what I've heard) and Dermott has spent the last 20 years with Haven.
Secondly, in January two of the original buildings at Minehead are to be demolished and landscaped over. This will be the Medical Centre at the front of the camp, and the building adjacent to the dining hall which contains the Laundrette and upstairs "the annexe". The annexe was never open to campers but was where visiting entertainers (including famous ones) would often be accommodated. It contains bedrooms, bathrooms and lounge areas.
I've heard the above from a very reliable source and it was also announced at the Gala Dinner to those who attended. I am therefore certain these are facts and not just rumours.
The above-mentioned two buildings are original parts of the Minehead camp, and have changed very little since they were first built. They are still serving their original purpose for the most part (although the annexe hasn't been used for many years admittedly but does contain massive amounts of history).
It is currently still possible to use a map from 1962 when the camp first opened and easily find almost everything on it. Minehead is unique in this regard as Skegness and Bognor have had their layouts changed almost beyond recognition.
By removing these two very significant original buildings, the original layout of the camp, as designed by Sir Billy Butlin, will forever be altered. Admittedly not massively, but still significantly. The camp as a whole is more or less still intact and the more this is eroded the worse off we all are.
I will post soon a few ideas on what actions we can take in protest against these unnecessary and foolish moves. I would strongly encourage you to do whatever you think might help.
