It has been confirmed in writing with Torbay Council that there is no contract for the use of the Maycliffe Hotel to accommodate asylum seekers. This does not mean it can’t or won’t be in the future, but it is not currently planned. This does appear to be a different position than the previous update that said that plans were “paused”.

Should we hear that this changes we will update you all.

Torbay residents are being asked to give their views in a new survey about a proposed new strategy for improving local sports facilities.

Torbay Council’s proposed new Playing Pitch Strategy will play a vital role in encouraging increased sporting activity and promoting health and wellbeing in Torbay by helping to ensure that there is a good supply of high-quality playing pitch facilities to meet the current and future needs of the area’s residents.  Torbay Council as a major sports facility landowner, motivator and manager will play a key role in the delivery of the Strategy.

As well as outlining plans for specific priority sites in Torbay, there are a number of guiding themes throughout the Strategy including:

§  recognise and emphasise the value of the pitch sports in contributing to enhanced mental and physical health and wellbeing.

§  provide, manage and maintain facilities in such a way as to address issues of environmental sustainability and climate benefit. 

§  encourage and support FE establishments and secondary and primary schools in Torbay to embrace and develop community use of their pitch sport facilities

Steve Darling, Leader of Torbay Council, said: “We need your views on our proposed Playing Pitch Strategy for Torbay – so please do take the time to have your say on our online survey.

“The Strategy has three main aims – Protect, enhance and provide. This means we want to protect existing facilities; enhance the quality, accessibility and management of existing facilities; and provide new facilities to meet demand.”

Councillor Mike Morey, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Environment and Culture for Torbay Council said: “Although the Strategy is looking at all playing pitches across Torbay, there are a number of priority sites in the document that we want to get people’s views on, from improving changing facilities at Armada Park, Barton Downs, Cricketfield Road and Windmill Hill, to rebuilding or developing a new pavilion at the Torquay Valley of Sport with changing facilities and toilets for rugby, cricket and athletics.

“We also want to find out how much interest or support there is in the community for a new 3G Astro turf playing pitch for Torbay.”

Priority projects outlined in the Strategy are:

• to improve the pitch quality for football and rugby at Clennon Valley Playing Fields through drainage works and enhance storage and toilet facilities so they are nearer to the pitches.
• to either rebuild or develop a new pavilion at the Torquay Valley of Sport with changing facilities and toilets for rugby, cricket and athletics.
• to prioritise improving changing facilities at Armada Park, Barton Downs, Cricketfield Road and Windmill Hill.
• to improve access to Park Tennis at Abbey Park, St Mary’s Park and Oldway Mansion.

There are also future plans for Brixham and we are working with both Devon Football Association and the Football Foundation to identify sites that meet the requirements of the Football Foundation’s Small Grants funding as well as work towards improving local changing rooms. We are also working with local sports clubs to improve the facilities.

More information

You can have your say by completing the survey here.

The survey closes on 5 January 2023.

National Tree Week (26 November – 5 December 2022) is the UK’s largest annual tree

celebration.

A range of events are taking place in Torbay during National Tree Week. Torbay Council is

working together with Treeconomics, SWISCo, Saving Devon’s Treescapes, Hi-Line, the Tree

Council, Shekinah Grow to promote the events and encourage participation locally.

Trees play an important role in Torbay’s work to tackle climate change and create a carbon neutral

Torbay. Benefits of trees include absorbing and storing carbon emissions, improving air

quality, helping keep our homes cool, helping to reduce flood risk, and much more.

Activities for the public during National Tree Week include tree planting events at Westerland

Valley, a tree giveaway event at St Mary’s Park in Brixham and tree ‘rehoming’ events for those

who have unwanted trees so these can be dropped off to be ‘rehomed’ as part of Torbay Council’s

commitment to getting the right tree in the right place.

During National Tree Week, Torbay will also be publishing its new i-Tree report which shows how

tree canopy cover has changed across the Bay over the past decade. This is a joint report by

Treeconomics, Torbay Council and SWISCo and local Tree Warden volunteers have also got

Involved in helping complete the survey.

The report will first of all be presented to local Tree Warden volunteers before being made public.

Leader of Torbay Council Steve Darling said: “National Tree Week is a fantastic opportunity for

people in Torbay to connect with nature and recognise the benefits of trees. So please do get

involved with one of the local events, or why not think about joining our volunteer Tree Warden

scheme?

“It’s also an opportunity for us to thank our local Tree Warden volunteers for what they’ve done so

far, and we also look forward to publishing the i-Tree report for Torbay. This will help us plan

where future trees can be planted, along with the feedback Tree Wardens already gave us at a

series of local workshops last year.”

Councillor Mike Morey, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Environment and Culture for Torbay

Council said: “In 2019 Torbay Council declared a climate emergency and trees are a key element

to helping tackle climate change.

“It’s one of a number of measures we are bringing in to help the planet including new solar farms,

encouraging more walking and cycling and electric vehicle charging points, increasing recycling

rates and tackling fuel poverty.

“We launched our Carbon Neutral Council Action Plan earlier this year and in December we will be

consulting with our partners on the new Torbay Climate Partnership Action Plan, so watch this

space.”

Activities the Tree Wardens in Torbay been involved within Torbay so far include: – supporting the COVID Memorial Tree Trail (working with Torbay Green Spaces Forum); – planting new trees around the perimeter of Galmpton Football Club; – planting a Jubilee Tree at Babbacombe.

– Tree Warden volunteers have also participated in workshops to identify where trees could potentially be planted in Torbay, and, working with Treeconomics and SWISCo, supported the new i-Tree tree canopy survey which compares tree canopy cover now with ten years ago.

Events taking place during Tree Week

Date time and venue Event Organiser Public event? Contact

Saturday 26 November

Westerland Valley, 2pm Tree planting Groundwork South Yes Emily Tyack, Groundwork South Emily.tyack@groundwork.org.uk

Tuesday 29 November

St Mary’s Park, Brixham, 2pm to 5pm Tree giveaway event Also, Tree ‘rehoming’ event – bring Saving Devon’s Treescapes Yes Jasmine Atkinson jatkinson@devonwildlifetrust.org Hannah Worthington, SWISCo (Tree rehoming event) Hannah.worthington@swisco.co.uk your unwanted trees

Wednesday 30 November,

4pm, Westerland Valley Tree planting Also, Tree ‘rehoming’, event – bring your unwanted trees Groundwork South Yes Emily Tyack, Groundwork South (tree planting) Emily.tyack@groundwork.org.uk Hannah Worthington, SWISCo (Tree rehoming event) Hannah.worthington@swisco.co.uk

Wednesday 30 November,

Blue Walnut Cafe Tree Week reception event for Tree Wardens at Blue Walnut Café and cinema Treeconomics, SWISCo and Torbay Council No – Tree Warden, invite only N/A – Tree Warden invite only. If you want to join the Tree Wardens scheme email TreeWarden@torbay.gov.uk

Thursday 1 December

Publication of i-Tree report today (to be published on Treeconomics and Torbay Council websites. Treeconomics, SWISCo and Torbay Council N/A Chris Gomm chris.gomm@torbay.gov.uk Nadine Moreby nadine@treeconomics.co.uk

Saturday 3 December,

Cricketfield Community Garden, 11am to 2pm Tree re-homing’ drop off point at Cricketfield Community Garden SWISCo Yes Hannah Worthington, SWISCo H