News courtesy of Kevin Foster
Date Booked For Red Arrows Display
This week saw the great news that the Red Arrows will return to Torquay this summer.
It has been confirmed that the timing of their show will be 7pm on Sunday 24th August 2014.
A deep hole on Torre Abbey Meadows
There are plans to install a tank below Torre Abbey Park to help ensure the quality of bathing water at the nearby beach is maintained.
The work means that, between the end of May and October, South West water will be monopolising the area of Abbey Meadow from the previous site of the balloon to the entrance gates.
A 25 metre hole will be dug and a tank positioned to store overflow sewage in the event of heavy rain. This area will be completely boarded with another entrance created for the workmen to access the site.
Once the work is completed there may be a chance to make some improvements to the meadows and at a recent meeting those present were asked to seek out thoughts from the community. So, please make your ideas known using the comments facility, or send an e-mail to StLukesRA@Gmail.Com.
Local Firm Scoops Growth Funding
There was good news for a high tech company based in Torquay with the announcement that it has secured £800,000 from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund.
The £800,000 granted to G&H (Torquay) will enable further investment into the company’s Systems Technology Group (STG). The group founded in early 2013 has a remit to design, develop and prototype systems-level products.
You can read more on Kevin’s website by clicking here.
Pavilion Planning Application Received
A Planning Application has now been submitted by Nicholas James Group for the redevelopment of the Torquay Pavilion into a new 60 bed hotel with shops, restaurants, cafes, 45 apartments and public realm works.
The proposal is currently being validated by the Council’s Planning Team; that will be completed within the next two weeks. This will be very basic assessment to make sure the relevant paperwork has been submitted and fees paid.
Once this process is completed, a three week public consultation will start and the application will be assessed by Torbay Council’s Development Management Committee and its statutory consultees, including English Heritage, who have been heavily involved in discussions about design and use of the Pavilion.
We will let you know when details of the consultation are available on-line.
There are a number of strong views around this development, not least the future of Cary Green. Whatever your thoughts, please take time to have your say once the public consultation opens.
Plans Unveiled for Nortel Site
New plans have been revealed for a £70million regeneration of the now derelict, former Nortel/Brookham, site.
It seems that the owners are about to reveal plans for the regeneration of the nine hectare site with a mixed-use residential and commercial proposal. The developers are claiming their plans will bring the whole site back into use, with around 250 homes built and potentially creating up to 200 local jobs.
The plans are due to be unveiled fully at a meeting of the Blatchcombe Community Forum which will be held at 7pm on Tuesday 15th April at the Great Parks Community Centre.
You can read more on the Herald Express website by clicking here.
Torquay Tops Seaside Destination Ratings
There was some great news for Torquay this week as it came out top of Seaside Destinations in the Travellers’ Choice Awards, announced by TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site.
The first two winners of the prestigious Best Destination in the UK accolade were London and Edinburgh, with Torquay in third place as the leading seaside resort and one of only two non-city locations in the top ten.
Commenting on the award, TripAdvisor said, ‘In a list dominated by larger cities, Torquay’s strong showing particularly stands out – placing it higher than any other seaside destination in the UK and one of only two towns to make the top ten (the other being Llandudno).’
Award winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for hotels, attractions and restaurants in destinations worldwide, gathered over a 12-month period.
Good Friday Walk of Witness
Christians from across Torquay will gather outside the Torquay Town Hall at 12:30pm on Good Friday, 18th April, for the walk of witness to the Harbourside for a united service.
