What Torbay Today's readers said this week

Public opinion has been lively this week, with  readers voicing their frustrations over roadworks, reminiscing about Torquay’s lost landmarks, debating political decisions and discussing Torbay’s future. Here’s what people have been saying on Torbay Weekly’s Facebook.

Road rage

Starting the week with an alas, unsurprising announcement, South Devon residents were met with news of further roadworks down the A382 and in Newton Abbot.

Rob Mustang Stuckey voiced his irritation over the timing, saying: “Great planning. Kids have been on half-term break all last week, meaning less traffic and minimal disruption. But no, let's start the roadworks now that they’re back at school.”

Lee Cross added: “It’s a nightmare. I live in Torquay and work in Bovey Tracey, so now I have to take the long way around.”

Dennis Blackford echoed the frustration: “More chaos for road users, and for what? Why are there multiple roadworks while potholes are being ignored?”

Spa memories

Last week’s nostalgia column, which revisited the tragic incidents that led to the closure of Torquay’s Victorian Marine Spa, sparked significant interest.

Susan Paradise shared a personal connection, saying: “My dad helped drain the pool. He was in the fire brigade, and the poor boy was stuck in the pipe.”

David Jenkin said: “They never even gave Living Coasts a chance to recover after covid. Seeing something like this come back would be amazing. Amazing having otters, seals, awks, penguins, etc to visit.”

Gaynor James suggested: “Turn it back into what it was. It would be a great place for holidaymakers and locals alike.”

Jenny Rider reminisced: “I learned to swim there. I remember the far-too-hot blackcurrant drink from the vending machine at the end of the session.”

Esme Atiya added: “I’m sorry that a child lost their life, but this closure affected so many people. What a difference it would make today.”

Policing under fire  

Alison Hernandez’s recent columns — one about optimism following a period of instability and another about new proactive measures — have been met with continued scepticism over her capacity as Police and Crime Commissioner.

Robert Lovell remarked, “And who caused the instability? Two suspended chief officers — both personally appointed by her — plus her mate as her deputy. What a sad state of affairs.”

Glynis Castle Elliott stated: “We don’t need a police commissioner.”

Sy Fly questioned: “Wait... What? This year, we're supposed to see visible, proactive and accessible neighbourhood policing? What have the police been doing up until now, then?”

Gloomy Gulls

Following Torquay United’s late loss to Chelmsford City, fans were quick to react.

Dave Sugden urged a managerial change: “Get Warnock in the hot seat — there’s no more room for error. He has massive experience at your disposal.”

Lee Cross agreed: “Wotton isn’t the manager we need.”

Spent force

Torbay MP Steve Darling’s column about Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey’s recent campaign visit to Paignton prompted political division.

Former Conservative Torbay MP Kevin Foster criticised the party’s approach, saying: “Yet this week Ed said ‘tough decisions’ were needed to increase defence spending. Whilst at the same time, Lib Dem MPs called for this tax break, demanded increased spending in virtually every department, and items like WASPI compensation. This is the issue with protest politics; it's just a bandwagon that can easily be ignored.”

However, Joe Rice expressed support: “I love this. We are such a responsive party — constituents ask, and we act, both locally and nationally. Steve takes the issues that matter to Torbay and delivers on them. Fourteen years of Tory gloom led to disillusionment, but now we have hope, positivity and a leader who listens to his MPs.”

Balancing acts

A recent news article on Devon’s budget debates, which saw political parties criticising one another’s records before eventually agreeing on spending plans, sparked discussion.

Douglas Laing said: “Difficult times make balancing a budget a challenge. Debate is healthy and necessary, but what’s unhelpful is the Lib Dems’ approach — arguing against the budget yet offering no alternatives. 

“Then the Lib Dems petulantly refused to vote. They adopt a head-in-the-sand attitude as their answer.”

Margaret Forbes-Hamilton added: “Do read this, Torbay residents. Do we want to be forced into a partnership with Devon when they are in such a parlous financial situation? Why would we want to take on the burden of their debts? Shouldn't we be saying that if the government won't let us go it alone, we prefer to join with South Hams and Teignbridge?”

Darren Cowell, who supports Torbay retaining its own council status, proposed a different approach: “Maybe the other district councils can agree to support Torbay and Exeter's bids and agree to their own merger, which we in turn could support. My gut feel is that the timetable will be so protracted if you are not in the first wave that it will fall off the end of this government's current term, but we must submit our options next month in any case.

“What we should be focusing on is the combined authority, which will bring real devolved powers and budgets. The current Devon-only proposal is regrettable as it is not strategic enough and would not present a powerful voice nationally.

In an ideal world, I'd like to see a South West Peninsula stretching from Cornwall to Dorset and Somerset — a real strategic region — but getting agreement is really complicated by Cornwall's adamant position that it wants to be on its own.”

Sign language

Jane Moore was unconvinced by concerns that removing the Brixham Theatre sign would prevent people from attending performances.

She said: “Most people would have the sense to either call the theatre beforehand for directions, Google it or simply ask someone.”

Spending power: a question of choices

Torbay Council leader Dave Thomas used his column in the Torbay Weekly to outline the council’s budget plans for the coming year.

Kelly Joanna questioned some of the spending: “Homes England are coughing up for Hotels for Homes and a large proportion of St Kilda. Not sure where the justification lies for Paignton and Preston Promenade flood defences. And as for Oldway, ratepayers are being hit with the cost of years of council negligence.”

However, Steve Knowles countered: “I don't think you understand the fundamentals of caring for a grade II listed building. The costs of the workmanship needed to be in keeping with the listing. The cost to repair and get it open is in excess of £50m. That's how much it costs to maintain such a building. Basic maintenance won't cut it. The current restoration is going ahead due to the wishes of many of the community. I don't recall the council 'begging'. They've simply tested the water to see if any private investors would be interested. Like I said, had money been spent on maintenance, even though the building wasn't being used, the public would have been 'copping the cost'. The new project and the hunt for private investors protect us from 'copping the cost'. It's a difficult one but, in my opinion, it was the correct decision, at the time, not to spend on it, as it was not making anything in return. That would have been a waste of money.”