Councillors bemoan being ‘left out’ of Torquay waterfront updates meeting

Fresh ideas for the future of Torquay’s harbourside and town centre will be aired at a meeting next week.

Businesses and council officers will discuss key issues including the future of Cary Parade and Cary Green, as well as the restoration of the Pavilion.

But ward councillors will not be present  – despite insisting that they should be.

Cllr Mandy Darling (Lib Dem, Tormohun) said: “We’ve been told we’re not welcome because they don’t want politics, but we want to be there to represent our communities.”

The meeting next Tuesday is the latest stage in consultations with the business community over plans to overhaul some of Torquay’s long-running development issues.

The latest phase will look at ways to make better connections between Abbey Sands and Cary Parade, improving and enhancing Cary Green and redeveloping the former theatre at the Pavilion.

Discussions will also be held on taxi rank provision. 

There has been anger online over the possible use of part of Cary Green as a taxi rank, as well concern over the progress of repairs to the vulnerable Pavilion.

In its invitation to businesses, the council says: “By developing these proposals with you, we want to ensure that not only do we complement the new public realm space at the Strand, but we give visitors a positive first and last impression on the entry and exit to the harbourside and town centre.”

The council aims to have preliminary design drawings ready in early spring, with work beginning later this year, as long as funds are available.

None of the three members representing Tormohun on Torbay Council – all Liberal Democrats – will attend the meeting, and a separate session has been scheduled for them.

But Cllr Darling said: “We would like to go as representatives of the people of Tormohun.

“It isn’t political; it’s that we have been voted in to represent the people of this area, and that’s what we want to do. We are being excluded.”

However, the council says all ward councillors have been kept informed at all times.

A spokesperson said: “The meeting is the latest in a series originally initiated, and chaired, by the businesses around the harbour and town centre in Torquay during our harbour public realm improvement project.

“Council officers have been in communication with ward councillors and other interested parties regarding the meeting, explaining that it is continuation of engagement work that has been going on for the last 12 months.

“A separate meeting has been set up for all councillors.”