Bid to protect Downs and Meadows

“That restaurant would have been the best thing that could have happened to Babbacombe Downs. It would have raised the standard of catering along the Downs in a single step and pointed the way forward to the rest of the establishments along there. Not to mention that it would have allowed people to dine at a fine restaurant looking out across one of the best views in the region. It would have been an asset but no, local people wanted stinky toilets that were frequented by drug addicts and gay cruisers. Of course that was the better option.

The existing hotels along the road there are a mess. They're ugly, badly run and cheap. The **** that is The Sefton, with its cheap UPVC conservatory, ugly wheelie bins left all along its front and the never ending stream of coaches with their engines left running polluting up the place, should have been torn down years ago and the Buccaneer ... don't even get me started.

Why do we allow traffic down there, there's nowhere to drive to, no parking. Pedestrianise it, make it safe for people to walk there. Or if you're not prepared to do that, at least have the decency to enforce the parking regulations. Especially on that blind bend at the Theatre end.”

“Doesn't Torquay have green spaces and nothing else? I like green spaces too, but is that all we should have? What about us who want to have exciting places to go to in the largest resort in the UK? We have gardens between the Pavilion and the theater, gardens all along the promenade, then more gardens at Abbey Gardens, then a giant green space, then add more green space at the King's Gardens, and then there's Corbyn Head. Noticed a problem here? There's nothing here but green space!

We shouldn't give these green spaces a covenant with anything written into into it too tightly, otherwise we will end up with exactly what we have now in the future, green spaces only, at the exception of all development no matter how sympathetic. We should be careful not to give ALL the rights of ALL the decent amenity land over to covenants for the next 100 years.

If the restaurant had been built under the Downs we wouldn't have had to close down the paths because of the perverts. They would hardly have been hanging outside the doors of the restaurant. It would have brought in visitors, had some of the most spectacular views of any restaurant in the UK, and have been built underground like the toilets are, non of the above ground space would have been lost, and new toilets were to be built and operated by the restaurant owners.

But we have no restaurant and closed down paths. All we do have is the perverts who I'm sure are all in favour of a covenant that could mean nothing ever gets done up there for the next 100 years.

I can't be the only person in Torquay that would like to see some development AND green spaces surely? Right now all we have is one administration after the other pandering to the group who want nothing at all.

Protection from what anyway? If the Cliff Railway wasn't there today and someone proposed building it, there would be people claiming that it would destroy Babbacombe Downs forever. If the hotels and bars were not there and were proposed to be built today, the same would occur and everyone knows it. People would stake their lives saying that it would ruin the place for all eternity and other nonsense. Even though in reality the objectors would be wrong wouldn't they? Because we do have those facilities, and they are enjoyed by many people who are reading this who enjoy both the facilities and the green space together. Imagine non of it ever been built because the land had been tied down with 100 year covenants, imagine all those facilities and enjoyments not existing. Imagine not been able to have a room with a phenomenal view, or a cream tea, or a pint or glass of wine and a meal after a trip up from the beach on the railway because none of it was built!

We need to build and have green spaces too, the middle path between the two is the road to success. We should be asking for open spaces, gardens, AND leisure amenities, preferably next to the green spaces which are all in prime spots and tourist areas. This shouldn't really have to be pointed out its so obvious. Go to somewhere like Skegness on a nice day, yes an east coast resort in recession hit UK, its clean, bright, very cheerful and happy, and its packed with tons of things to do and consequently tons of people. We have a much nicer environment here and a lot of room for amenities and all kinds of leisure.

We should build, and we should build carefully, we should dream big things, we should be thoughtful, we should build with love and passion, we should consider beauty, we should care about the future, we should care about now, we should create an equilibrium of play and relaxation together, a balance between nature and the best arts mankind has to offer, and we should never be afraid to build and move forward, then we should invite the world to come and enjoy it all with us, or we can lock the whole lot down in 100 year covenants, then sit back and watch exciting resorts on the telly while complaining tourism is down. Please choose wisely Torquay.”

“If an 800 year old Abbey and its surroundings arent protected what is?.”

“Why only for 100 years?”

“Before anyone brings in any development restrictions on Babbacombe Downs would someone mind doing something about those ridiculously ugly hotels that line the road there? You know, the ones that leave all their wheelie bins parked out the front and let coaches park with their engines running all day.”

“One of the biggest assets of Torquay as the green spaces like Torre Abbey meadows, Babbacombe Downs and many others and no doubt residents and councillors will agree. Therefore , there should be covenants in place for these areas to be protected.”

“Very welcome news about Paignton Green, but why is it going to take up to 2 1/2 years to protect Babbacombe Downs and Torre Abbey in the same way?”