U-turn on Torquay summer road closures but Strand development still has traders worried

Businesses around Torquay harbourside have breathed a huge sigh of relief - traffic blocking roadworks are going on a summer holiday.

However, many traders are still concerned that the ongoing transformation of The Strand will still have a “big impact” on peak season trading.

The £4 million regeneration project to transform The Strand area and give it a 'piazza' feel has led to traffic hold-ups in and around the waterfront.

It was feared that the main route around the harbour would be closed to traffic totally at the start of the main summer season - but contractors have managed to agree and find a U-turn.

At the moment the traffic around The Strand and waterfront is one-way with four-way traffic lights.

Contractors are due to open the road for a two-way flow for the Easter holidays in two weeks' time. But there was a fear that the route would be closed for parts of May and parts of June and July - some of the main summer season for traders.

Now, after talks with the contractors, it has been confirmed the road will remain open during that busy holiday period, barring any need for emergency works, with the actual details yet to be confirmed.

Torbay Council officers have also started to explore options that would see the remaining phases of the project delivered in a different way. A range of options are being considered and worked through with the contractor, particularly when it comes to the timing of the road closure part of the project. The outcome of this work is expected to be shared with businesses and residents later in the spring.

Deputy council leader Chris Lewis, in charge of regeneration, said: "The contractors have agreed not to close the road for the summer months unless there is an emergency. It will also be open to two-way traffic for Easter.

"It is good news all round. We have made it clear to officers that if we could avoid the summer months then so much the better.

"The comms team and officers have been down there talking to businesses. They made it clear that they did not want the road closed for the peak period. We have listened to them."

The ambitious scheme to transform the harbourside is into its second phase, with trees being planted on the cleared and widened area in front of the old Debenhams store.

When the project is completed in the autumn, the former dual carriageway arrangement will be replaced by a narrower roadway and a wider pedestrian area.

Buses will no longer stop in the area, with a completely new bus ‘hub’ being built around the corner. Torbay Council claim the changes will mean less congestion and pollution.

“It had become a bus station,” said Cllr Lewis.“This will deliver something much better.”

The new open area will allow pedestrians access to the famous Mallock Tower clock as well as giving space for seating and pop-up events.

It is part of a wide-scale regeneration of Torquay and other parts of Torbay being funded by tens of millions of pounds in government grants.

Temporary traffic lights around the building site have led to delays for commuters, and some businesses have said their trade was being hit by the works.

One such business is Saltwater Fish and Chips, which has been trading on Torquay Harbour for eight years. Frank, who has been a fryer for six years, said that the roadworks have caused one of the worst trading periods he’s ever seen.

“I’ve never seen our trade get this bad,” said Frank.

“The only comparable time was Covid, but at that time, we could do deliveries but even that's hard now. The delivery drivers won’t come down here because it takes too long. They don’t want to be waiting 45 minutes at the lights.

“We used to always have people stop just outside the shop to pick up their order but that’s impossible now.”

While the fish and chip shop welcomed the news that the road wouldn’t be closed, but said the move was too little, too late.

“If they keep the area open even slightly then that would help us this summer, but the damage is already being done. Business has got pretty dire at times, some days we barely make enough to cover our costs.”

But Cllr Lewis stressed that the council was holding regular meetings with harbourside traders and doing all it could to help.

He said no road closures are planned during the school summer holidays, and some of the unsightly fences on part of the site will be dismantled by Easter.

Burridge’s restaurant, also on The Strand, said that keeping the flow of cars through the area would especially help bring in local trade.

Proprietor Agie Kuklinska explained: “We’ve only just reopened from being closed over the winter so we’ll have to see how the current works will affect us.

“So far, trade has been similar to last year. We welcome any change that will keep the area moving because I think it's the loss of local people who drive into the Harbour that will really hit us. The tourists will hopefully keep coming.”

One worry Agie had was the drilling of the pavement, just metres from the restaurant’s entrance.

She added: “When the project is done, it will look great, but I do wish that they had started and finished this earlier.”

The project will see a new statue of Agatha Christie unveiled on the harbourside, and some of the area’s old tramlines will be cleaned and restored, to be put on display as part of the new open public space.