Cllr. David Thomas: Christmas has come early for our heritage assets

Well the news about investment in the Bay is coming thick and fast!
Last week I shared with you the great news that Torquay had received £20 million from the Government to improve the town centre. This week we can share the news that the National Lottery Heritage Fund is starting a 10-year journey with Torbay that will transform our heritage assets.
Torbay is one of just nine places set to benefit from their new Heritage Places initiative. It will see our three towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham receive a share of the £200 million allocated across the country. Noticeably, we are also the only place in the South West to receive it too.
The Heritage Places initiative has been set up to inspire communities, revitalise economies and build pride in place. This fund really does have the potential to make a huge difference here. We are aiming to use this money to improve the area for you, our residents and communities, as well as drive our visitor economy and attract new audiences.
We really do have an extraordinary range of heritage assets here in the Bay, many of which are internationally recognised. Our Heritage Strategy sets out our commitment to caring for our historic assets and sharing stories of our unique and varied heritage. So this exciting partnership with the National Lottery Heritage Fund allows us to ensure our local heritage is more widely recognised, celebrated, and supported now and into the future.
I can already hear you asking what are we going to use this funding for? Our next steps will be together with the National Lottery Heritage Fund to define the projects here that will significantly benefit from this partnership. This will ultimately build stronger heritage connections and communities using our Heritage Strategy, which was developed with our local community. I will share more as this is developed.
Now, have you started to discuss Christmas in your house? For some I know it’s too earlier to start talking about what’s happening in December but last week we made an announcement about a popular Christmas event that you may want to add to your calendars.
After the incredible success of the inaugural Bay of Lights event in 2022, I am glad to say that the highly anticipated Illumination Trail will return this year. This year’s trail has also been extended and will now illuminate Torquay, Paignton and Brixham seafronts.
The Torquay trail will have an impressive light display with 12 large light installations being displayed along a one-and-a-half-mile stretch from Torre Abbey to the harbourside. It will showcase new and exciting light displays alongside some family favourites that will mesmerise residents and visitors.
On Paignton seafront and at Brixham harbour there will be magnificent 12-meter-high pixel Christmas Trees. They will be offering stunning digital sound and light shows. The pixel trees will also be in place from Friday December 1, 2023.
This seasonal Bay wide programme of lights really is a family festive favourite. Not only are these great events for you to enjoy with your family and friends, these are also popular with visitors to the Bay. And by hosting events like this out of our traditional summer season, it really does help to support local businesses and our hospitality sector at a time where trade may be slower.
Like last year, the Bay of Lights incorporates everything from the Illumination Trail at Torquay, Brixham Lanterns to Lights & 'Luminations in Brixham, the Christmas Train of Lights in Paignton, and seasonal illuminated events at popular local destinations such as the Model Village, Paignton Zoo, Kents Cavern and more.
I for one am looking forward to seeing these amazing illuminations brighten up our Bay leading up to the festive time.