A HOTEL giant has said that Bude is on their ‘target list’, but nothing is set in stone, following the submission of plans for a 70-bed budget hotel in the town.

Social media coverage has been inundated with comments following claims that hotel giant Travelodge was hoping to bring a budget hotel to Bude. This comes just after Premier Inn, situated along the Strand, opened its doors to the town in 2018.

The planning application details, on planning.cornwall.gov.uk, outline that the applicant is ERC Development Limited, seeking approval of full planning permission and conservation area consent for the development of a 70-bed budget hotel, including bar and cafe, with associated car park and access works. This would be developed at the former bus garage and depot site at Lansdown Road in Bude, known to many as ‘the old Hookways bus station’.

In one of the associated documents for the plans, it states: “Any hotel provider could benefit from a permission on this site; however it is envisaged that this development will be promoted through Travelodge, an organisation which has great experience in successfully undertaking such developments.”

In another document, it says: “This development is herein referred to as ‘Bude Travelodge’ due to the anticipated occupier being Travelodge.”

The site currently comprises two units including the former 1920s cinema and the former bus depot and garage, both of which are in a ‘poor state of repair’.

The Post has been in contact with Travelodge, who have said nothing is set in stone, with the site being a ‘potential’ venture for them.

A spokesperson said: “We do not have anything as yet to say about it, but it is something that we are looking at. It is on our target list.”

The spokesperson added that a Travelodge hotel for Bude is indefinite at present.

Following the news of the planning application, a petition has been created via 38 Degrees titled ‘Say no to a Travelodge in Bude’, which had almost 300 signatures as the Post went to press. In the petition, it states that Bude has ‘enough accommodation for visitors’, including Premier Inn, independent hotels, B&Bs, caravan parks and holiday homes.

It also states: “It will increase traffic, create an eyesore, and take business away from the current accommodation places in Bude.

“Yes it will create jobs, but loads more jobs will be lost when independent hotels who employ more staff are closed down!”

Views among the public have been varied, with main concerns being the design of the hotel not being in keeping with the rest of the area, as well as the risk to other local independent hotels and B&Bs. However, many people believe another budget hotel would bring in more tourists and improve the local economy, with guests potentially making use of the town’s amenities including restaurants, fish and chip and ice cream businesses and independent shops.

One person said: “There’s loads of smaller buildings with Cornish charm to stay in, they’re called B&Bs — unfortunately they’re too expensive for some couples and families wanting to holiday in the UK and often cheaper to holiday abroad and then tourism drops off and everyone moans about poor old seaside towns doing into die line with no jobs, drug use and rising crime. Give it a chance, it might bring more money to your town and some of the small struggling shops on the high street selling expensive coffee and lifeguard hoodies might survive a bit longer. Just a thought!”

Another person via Facebook said: “The site has sat derelict for many years and as with the Strand, there have been many local developers who have assessed the financial viability of the site and decided it’s not worth it. As with the Strand, just about anything is better than what was/is there before. Regards the architectural merit of the building, Travelodge obviously have their own style/brand of building, think what you may of it. The site is not within Bude’s conservation area and does not have any impact on any immediate surrounding listed buildings as there are none, to my knowledge.”

However, some disagreed and believe a Travelodge would be bad for those with small, independent businesses.

One local person said: “Bude has a thriving bed and breakfast culture, which offers guests individuality and local knowledge. The guesthouses source their products locally and spend their money locally. Travelodge would have a central buying system and profits would not be spent in Bude.”

On the planning website, 20 comments of objection have been submitted for the proposals (PA19/01978), with zero supporting. One person said: “I agree something needs to be done with this derelict site but not this monstrosity! It is in no way in keeping with its surroundings and towers above all surrounding properties. Bude has plenty of bed and breakfasts, hotels, flats and houses for holiday rental and I see no need for another large chain hotel. This would be detrimental to small locally run businesses and detrimental to the community.

“Bude is a friendly and small seaside town, which has no need for large impersonal hotels. Large hotels bring with them stag and hen parties, which has been to the detriment of many British seaside towns! This proposal brings nothing aesthetically, architecturally, community led or any amenities for locals and this should be at the forefront of council and planning officers’ minds when granting permission — not how much money can be made with no thought for the consequences!”