News courtesy of Kevin Foster
(MP for Torbay)
Torquay Magistrates Court to Close
Yesterday came the sad news that despite hundreds of local residents, magistrates and courts users supporting my Keep Justice Local campaign Torquay Magistrates Court will close, with no alternative options being put in place within the bay.
The County Court in the Willows is unaffected by these proposals.
Red Arrows Set to Fly Over Paignton
Rather uniquely there was both good and bad news for the bay in terms of the Red Arrows this week.
The first piece of news was that after many years the Red Arrows would not be performing at this year’s Royal Torbay Regatta in August. Yet this was quickly followed by the news that they will be flying over Paignton on Sunday 12th June as part of the new Torbay Air Show.
As before their display will be visible from many locations around the bay and hopefully the weather will be good to ensure they can do their full routine.
You can find full details of the Torbay Airshow on a dedicated website by clicking here.
Gallows Gate Roundabout Work Set To Start
If you travel regularly via Gallows Gate Roundabout then bear in mind that works are due to commence this week (Tuesday 16 February 2016) on a project to improve traffic flow around it.
The improvements will involve widening the Marldon Road approach to the A380 Ring Road. This will provide a lengthened two lane section allowing for additional queuing capacity. The work will be complete by April 2016.
These works are part of a series of improvements, known as the Torquay Gateway Schemes, which are improving transport links in the vicinity of the newly opened South Devon Highway. The additional queuing capacity is being added as additional traffic is expected to use this route to connect with the new link road, instead of the more traditional Riviera Way route.
The works on Marldon Road have been approved for Government Funding by the ‘Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership’
To see all the proposed works in the Torquay Gateway Scheme, as well as a plan for these works, just click here.
Torbay Hospital on Alert
Our local Hospital has been in the news quite a bit this week and on Monday was forced to cancel a range of outpatient and other appointments due to pressures in the local health system.
You can read more about this on the Herald Express website by clicking here. This was unrelated to the industrial action taken by Junior Doctor’s on Wednesday.
On a wider point there has been significant discussion this week of the Government’s decision to implement the proposed contracts after 3 years of negotiations with the BMA. You can read the statement given by the Secretary of State for Health to the House of Commons explaining his reasoning for doing this, along with the debate that followed, by clicking here.
Latest News On TUFC Move
News that Torquay United may be thinking of moving from Plainmoor, their home for 105 years, has prompted a lot of debate recently.
Torquay United are in talks with a major American development company and Plainmoor landlords Torbay Council over an ambitious new stadium scheme in the Barton area.
If negotiations between the council and the developers reach agreement a new £7.5 million stadium could be built as early as the 2017-2018 season. The suggested site is between the Willows retail area and Torbay Crematorium’s site.
A number of residents have commented on the site concerned in relation to issues it has with flooding and the impact on nearby wildlife. There have also been comments expressing some scepticism about the likely viability of the plan given the club’s current league position and well known financial issues in recent years.
That said no firm plans have yet been published and we wait with interest. In the meantime David Thomas of the Herald Express has recorded a podcast in which he discusses whether an upgraded pitch at Plainmoor would be a better option. You can listen to it by clicking here.
Glow in The Park
Tonight it will be on your marks! Get set! Glow! at the VeloPark for a unique event to encourage a healthier lifestyle.
The 5km fun run with a difference will take place at the Velopark, next to Torbay Lesiure Centre and is open to anyone over the age of six, and takes place at the Velo Park on Saturday, February 13, at 6pm. The event is being arranged by a partnership including Torbay Council, local health bodies and the Herald Express.
The idea is to turn an exercise session into a fun night time party with participants encouraged to walk run or dance their way through Glow Zones mixed with neon. You can run, dance or walk your way through the course wearing high-viz clothing, head torches, glow sticks and anything else that will help you glow in the dark.
A special Start Party will signal the start of the Glow in the Park experience.
Whether you’re an athlete, novice runner, a group of friends or a family with children aged over six, Glow in the Park is open to all abilities and offers everyone the opportunity to dance, walk and run together in a safe, friendly and fun environment.
Entry is online and £3 per individual or £2.50 for groups of four or more. Just click here to be taken to the dedicated site.
Events
Sat 13th Feb: 1pm-3pm, Torbay Tech Jam, Paignton Library
February 13th -20th: Half Term Play Programme, Play Torbay…
- Sat 13th: 10am-1pm, Wild Fox Growing Connections, Foxhole – camp cooking and bird feeding and willow works
- Sat 13th: 10am-1pm, Fort Apache Adventure Playground. Lots of activities including arts and crafts and a special Valentine’s lunch
- Mon 15th: 10.30-2pm, Indigos Go Wild will be making bows and arrows
- Tues 16th: 1pm-3pm, Play Rangers will be at Foxhole Shops, camp cooking, parachute games and slack-lining
- Wed 17th: 1-3pm. Play Rangers will be visiting Lindisfarne Park, Willows, Torquay. Activities include whittling, making love heart sweets, peg people and more
- Thurs 18th: 1-3pm, Ellacombe Park, Torquay – camp cooking, including sausages in a roll
- Fri 19th: 1-3pm Play Rangers at Starpitten Park, Watcombe and try your hand at making water rockets, campfire cooking and more
- Sat 20th: 10.30am-2pm, Indigos Go Wild – 10am-1pm, Fort Apache – 10am-1pm, Wild Fox, Foxhole
Mon 15th – Sat 20th Feb: 7.30pm (matinee 2.30pm on Sat), What the Butler Saw, TOADS production, Little Theatre, Babbacombe, Tickets £12.50 concessions available
Tues 16th & Fri 19th Feb: 1pm-4pm, Create Crazy Creatures at Torre Abbey Torquay. Children £3.50, adults £5
Sat 20th Feb: 10am-12pm, Celebrating Torbay Local History Group, Torquay Library, Lymington Road, Torquay, FREE
Sat 27th Feb: 7.30pm, Unleased Theatre Company presents Under One Roof,Princess Theatre, Torquay, Tickets £13.90 plus £4 transaction fee. In aid of Leonard Stocks Homeless Centre.
