Long gone! Tucktonia Model Village back in 1977. Christchurch, Dorset

[@David-xl9cp]

Went there back in the dark ages and it still stay in my mind today, just amazing models 👍

[@terrymurphy5586]

I used to work there 1st Job out of school. Spent the summers of 1974 and 75 there. Even drove the train. Would be considered a H&S nightmare today and most of the staff were off their faces on the Bob Hope. It was a fun place to work.

[@traceywye6504]

I rember going here as a child, never really forgot about it. Typical flooding area build houses!!!

[@phillwainewright4221]

I worked there in 1977. Go-karts and train. I never bothered going in to see the models, though. Kinda wish I had now.

[@westhavengwr4613]

I went as a child having seen it on Blue Peter. For the last sixteen years i have run a business just up the road.

[@tonyclifton265]

the area was so prone to flooding that it couldnt sustain a tourist attraction model village - so they built residential property there. did that stop the flooding?

[@richpeas1924]

Use to love going there as a kid, great memories. But sadly no longer with us as with Pontins as well. How they killed Christchurch in two easy steps!

[@tonyb83]

Hi Stuart, I'm afraid I'm partially to 'blame' for the housing development on Tuctonia. The Tuctonia site flooded from the River Stour during the big Christchurch fluvial flood in 197? ( I can't remember when it was, it might have been 198?). The model village in your video was severly damaged by the flood. A planning application was then lodged to build houses on the site. You may remember, at that time Wessex Water Authority were responsible for advising Planning Authorities on development in flood risk areas (its now the Environment Agency and Lead Local Authorities). You may also remember I was their Development Control Engineer. So because the site had just flooded I objected to the planning application on WWA's behalf. By chance at there same time my colleagues in WWA's New Works department were designing the Christchurch Flood Alleviation Scheme. Amongst other things the scheme involved dredging thousands of tons of gravel out of the River Stour to increase the capacity of the river. This would have involved hauling the gravel away at great cost and adverse impact on residents living along the public roads to the disposal site. So as I expect you will have twigged. The developers needed to raise the Tuctonia site in level, to maker it safe from flooding, and WWA needed to dispose of thousands of tons of gravel from the proposed river dredging to keep the scheme costs to the public down. After much negotiation that's what we did. This was a win-win because in those days Development Control Engineers for WWA were flood defence engineers they knew how flood alleviation schemes were designed and funded, and they learnt about the Local Authority planning process. They were able to liaise very closely with their engineering colleagues in the New Works department and could see opportunities such as this one, which benefited everyone. That's not how it is today and I wonder if a win-win like this could ever happen again. Regards Tony Burch

[@StuartMorris7]

Very good to hear from you Tony, and thanks for the explanation. My video was simply a family one which I uploaded in response to some questions about the model village. I was not being judgemental, and not being from that area did not know what happened. Do I sense that like me you are not happy with the way agencies and councils have changed in recent years? You hardly hear the word 'engineer' these days.

[@tonyb83]

Good to hear from you too Stuart. 'Engineer', what's that. They fix photocopiers don't they? I often visit Weymouth would you like to meet up for a drink and a chinwag ? Tony