Dave Thomas: Steady but assured progress for Castle Circus

I know that many of you want to see improvements in and around Castle Circus and I want to assure you that our Operation Town Centres work to keep our towns safe is continuing with real determination.

Making our town centres safer, cleaner and more welcoming is a key priority for this administration and we are making steady progress.

Public space protection orders are being issued where needed and our CCTV teams are working closely with the police to monitor and arrest those who cause a nuisance. Our council teams have been working side by side with the Torquay neighbourhood policing team to make the town safer for everyone.

Their partnership is making a visible difference, and it is encouraging to see the results of this close working relationship.

Recently seven community protection warnings were issued against individuals displaying predatory behaviour towards women and girls.

This kind of early intervention prevents problems from escalating and sends a clear message that such behaviour will not be tolerated.

Night marshals continue to patrol the town centres of Torquay and Paignton every Friday and Saturday evening, and night buses ensure that people out late at night have a safe and affordable way to get home.

We are also encouraging business owners to sign up to our ‘Safety of Women at Night’ charter. This simple pledge shows a commitment to keeping premises safe spaces for all customers and helps create an atmosphere of trust and security across our town centres.

The council and police will continue to take firm action to address anti-social behaviour and to protect residents and visitors.

Alongside this important safety work, the local community is showing real energy and creativity of its own.

In the heart of Castle Circus a special event is being planned to celebrate the area and help revitalise it through art and performance. Next month a free festival called ‘This is My Circus’ will take over Castle Circus with a joyful mix of music, murals and community activity.

The festival runs across the weekend of October 18/19 and will spread through Castle Circus, along Union Street including the Union Square shopping centre, through Fleet Walk and down to the Strand.

The whole area will come alive with live music and street performances, colourful murals, a shop-window art trail, selfie stations, community stalls, pop-up shops, talks and workshops. Circus-inspired celebrations will add to the fun and provide something for all ages.

Community groups with strong connections to the area have been busy planning the event with council support.

Last week Torbay Communities hosted two community action days to prepare the neighbourhood, sprucing it up and planting fresh flowers near the town hall. Their hard work is already making a difference and setting the scene for what promises to be a fantastic weekend.

Why not pop along and visit the festival? If it proves a success there is every chance that more festivals and community celebrations could follow.

During our recent street surgeries, many of you have spoken about how empty shops drag down the heart of our town.

That’s why it’s such great news that several of Torquay’s vacant premises will spring back to life during the festival.

Talented artists are already transforming key sites—including the Castle Pub, the former pharmacy at Castle Circus, the hoardings outside the former Debenhams site and the old Mambo building—into vibrant works of art that will brighten the streets and lift community pride.

Schools have also been getting involved. During the summer I attended a showcase event where students from Coombe Pafford School presented ideas for improving the area, including more youth spaces, arts activities and public events. Their handmade mosaics and crafts will be sold in one of the pop-up shops during the festival.

Ellacombe Youth Group will also run a pop-up shop showcasing their own handmade items and artwork. Visitors can follow a selfie trail around the festival route and Torquay Museum will host an exhibition focusing on the rich history of Castle Circus.

There will be so much happening across the festival weekend that it promises to be an unmissable celebration of community pride. Full details of the programme can be found on the Leisure, Sports and Community pages of the council website.

While there is still much more to do in and around Castle Circus, this festival shows what can be achieved when our community comes together, and it marks a hopeful step toward a brighter, more vibrant town centre.