HOTEL bed space numbers in Sidmouth have dropped by 35 per cent in the last two-and-a-half decades, figures show.
HOTEL bed space numbers in Sidmouth have dropped by 35 per cent in the last two-and-a-half decades, figures show.
Members of the Sidmouth Hotel and Caterers Association declined from 28 in 1987 to 13 today, said the chairman of the town council’s planning committee.
Councillor John Hollick highlighted how 1,865 bed spaces had dwindled by 645 to 1,220 in the past 24 years.
Cllr John Hollick compared the Sidmouth Hotel and Caterers Association statistics to figures from 1987, before civic leaders discussed controversial plans to replace the Fortfield Hotel, in a designated tourism area, with 31 residential apartments.
He said, in the same amount of time, numbers of guest houses had reduced by 10 but self-catering options had increased.
Mr Hollick said not all hotels were members of the association.
He added venues lost in that time include the Abbeydale, Torbay, Westbourne and Salcombe Hill House to name a few.
“Tourism is our main industry,” said Mr Hollick, “It would be a pity to end up without any hotels at all following on from what has happened not far from here in East Devon.”
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