Latest News From Torbay Civic Society

Special Public Meeting at the Riviera International Conference Centre on 22nd February 2010 at 7 pm. A company interested in developing the marina car park and restoring the Pavilion is expected to outline schemes that might contribute towards multi-million pound repairs in the area. One issue to be debated will be how much of the repairs should be paid by taxpayers and how much by developers.

As part of a consultation exercise on the future of heritage in Torbay the Council is asking residents to complete a questionnaire on Heritage Strategy which is available on line from www.torbay.gov.uk or in hard copy for posting back to the Town Hall from any of the libraries within Torbay.

The second phase of this large redevelopment is currently taking place which we understand will eventually be converted into a second floor medical centre for Pembroke House Surgery together with a new facility for Lewis Chemists Ltd. This, the old Inland Revenue and Job Centre building, has already seen an improved footfall at these ground centre premises since its conversion into a Tesco Express. With the complexes second and third floor nearing completion the developers are now advertising the top floor to let as offices or business units.

The current Inn on the Quay seafront pub at Goodrington is to be transformed by the Whitbread Company into one of their Premier Inns by the creation of 33 bedrooms and a very much updated pub. The pub is now open and the external patio and conservatory area is being completed.

The second Travelodge to be built in Torbay is now underway as clearance of the site- previously Middlepark Hotel - on Marine Drive Paignton has commenced. The hotel will be completely demolished and a new multi storey hotel built comprising 90 bedrooms. Parking will be critical and we understand there are plans afoot to arrange for some visitors to park in the municipal car park in Colin Road.

Stage is set for Brixham Community to take over the management of the Brixham Theatre and adjoining Scala Hall from Torbay Council for 2 years. The Brixham Arts and Theatre Society (BATS) Committee will voluntarily man a small office within the complex to try and capitalise on the use of the building to see if they can create more income than is presently received. Now the BATS have taken over the running of the Theatre it is understood new societies and groups are already being encouraged to use the premises. It all augers well for the future

Torbay Civic Society has now created a sub committee within its main committee in order to monitor the future developments at the Hollicombe Gas Works Site Recent work has entailed the cutting down of trees overhanging the Torquay Road and others that were said to be dangerous. We understand that Transco are carrying out engineering work at the site to maintain the culverts. There is another appeal date coming up which we will report on later. A public meeting was held on Thursday 10th June at Preston Primary School at which concern was expressed about the proposed decontamination process. Midas had declined an invitation to attend and there was great concern about this. There is no doubt that this toxic site would pose risks to the general environment which includes of course, the school adjacent to the site. There has been an opportunity for residents to have one to one meetings with Midas regarding their concerns and this society is going to take up this opportunity in the near future.

The £5 million development for young people at Parkfield to be called 'My Place'is moving through the detailed design stage. It has been designed for young people to encourage participation in sport, performance arts and socialising. Following a public meeting which this society attended, great concern was expressed about the potential number of participants to the BMX and skateboard tracks (likely up to 2000 per weekend) without any extra car parking or drop off facilities. There was also a concern about the elevated activity course at the front of the property near the road. Later the society attended the planning committee and was pleased to learn that this particular part of the application had been withdrawn.

At the Tormohun Community Partnership meeting held at the ERC on February 22nd 200+ residents turned out to hear proposals for the future of Princess Gardens and the Pavilion. With the developer company, Nicholas James Group, in attendance everyone learned that the Pavilion was not threatened although the Princess Gardens, the Marina car park, the restaurant and inner harbour walkway area are all areas that could be developed. Residents were asked for their views on a new hotel and or casino and the development of the banjo area for amenity purposes. This first open meeting was called just to get this huge subject involving over £10m into public arena. At a public meeting in late May 120 people were present to hear the latest plans and see a model of the Princess Gardens and Esplanade redevelopment plan. The Society had been fortunate to have a preview of the plans and its committee had been unanimous in supporting the proposals which would see the retention of the Pavilion, the inner harbour and north quay, the Princess Gardens and the Cenotaph. The most controversial aspect of the whole development would be the 7 storey iconic apartment building (misquoted in the press as likely to be 12 storey) at the end of the quay. Since this date a public exhibition was held on 27th,28th and 29th May in the Pavilion.

The formal plans for the regeneration of the top of Union Street, Temperance Street and Lymington Road into the town's new 'community hub complex' have now been publicly launched. There will be full public consultation with the Torbay Civic Society also giving its views. Following the national budget proposals and cutbacks to local authorities the Torquay Community Hub - previously a flagship plan of our Authority - being a £36 million project is likely to be abandoned. The Council will still require new offices in the town centre area but the Castle Circus and Town Hall Hub is not likely to be built in the near future.

The highly controversial 'HiFlyer Tethered Balloon' is once again flying in Torquay. The company behind this business have this year displayed advertisements on the balloon gondola and the canvas which will certainly be a distraction to motorists using the sea front road. The Torbay Civic Society will be writing again to Torbay Council about their concerns for safety in accordance with rules laid down by the Highways Authority. In a major feature by the Herald Express the question of the advertisements has now gone into the public domain and the Society has heard back from Torbay Council that their Highways Dept are looking into the concerns we raised. With no reply having been received regarding the potential dangers caused through distraction of drivers the society has recently learned that the balloon is not being used sufficiently by the public due to south westerly winds being severe this year. It is likely the company will have to stabilise the current balloon or replace it with one that is more wind resilient.

Redevelopment of 4 to 24 Torwood Street. Following the refusal by Torbay planners of the iconic building proposed in Torwood Street a completely new design has now been formally submitted to Torbay Council by the developing company 'remarkable'. After consultation with the planning department, the South West Regional design panel and English Heritage it is expected that the new designs will be acceptable. Torbay Civic Society once again endorsed the improvements to this tired commercial area. In early June the go ahead for the revised plan produced by local architects Kay Elliott were given the 'green light' by planners subject to the final details of frontages being satisfactory and the Section 106 monies being paid. This development covers numbers 4 to 24 Torwood Street which includes the site of the former Royal Garage and this is likely to be a £20 million investment in the town.

The potential of leasing Beacon Quay for alternative use has been proposed by the Torbay Development Agency (TDA) and Torbay Council who will now await potential investors responding to see if this public beach and its surrounding area is of interest.

Following the acquisition of the town centre buildings at Paignton, known as Crossways, by Edinburgh based Gaelic Investments Co. there was great concern that Torbay Council was unable to get details of what seemed to be secret plans for this huge site. Having taken up the suggestion of the Civic Society to openly threaten them with the possibility of compulsorily purchasing the site it is pleasing to learn the investment company are now in touch with the Council. We understand there are plans being drawn up but meanwhile the company are offering the present shop units to potential tenants. We understand that there is likely to be no redevelopment of this site, merely refurbishment and sadly the demolition of the news stand at its entrance following the refusal by the company of the newsagent's lease.

The Council are in discussions with Bloor Holdings Ltd about the possibility of them providing a new club house and a redesigned course to enable the release of the land adjacent to the Brixham Road, currently the 1st and 18th holes and clubhouse. The proposal sees the development of 140 houses and a residential home on the released land. Public consultations have commenced. A vociferous anti development group 'RAGS' - Residents Against Golf Club Sell Off - has been highly successful in gathering local supporters to its cause, although to date neither the club or the developer has seen fit to respond to any of the opposition claims.