Fears over Torbay Olympic torch route 'eyesores'
A TORBAY councillor has called for action on two major development sites, saying it is a shame the Olympic torch procession will have to run past the eyesores.
Cllr Darren Cowell said it was time developer Havard Tisdale, which is behind the Palm Court and Torwood Street multimillion-pound projects, keeps true to its word and moves in to start redevelopment.
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The company says it hopes to be in a position to announce start dates shortly.
Cllr Cowell's plea for quick action comes as the final hurdle on Torwood Street was lifted by Torbay planners after a Section 106 agreement was signed by both parties.
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The developer has announced it will start work on Palm Court before it moves in with diggers on the former Royal Garage site at 4 to 24 Torwood Street.
John Havard, from Havard Tisdale, said: "Once the S106 agreements are agreed for both sites, we will announce start dates for the work.
"However, given that the Abbey Crescent site has been identified by the mayor, Torbay Council and the Torbay Development Agency as the priority in terms of the need for redevelopment, it is likely the Abbey Crescent work will begin before Torwood Street."
Cllr Cowell said the £12million and £20million respective schemes ought to be independent of one another and start concurrently.
He said: "Palm Court shouldn't be linked to the Torwood Street scheme.
"They are two separate projects but it is of concern if the developer waits to complete one project before doing the other one.
"I hope we will see the two projects being developed together, especially when Torwood Street has had planning consent for much longer than Palm Court. It is disappointing work has not started."
The Hilton hotel group has been linked to the Torwood Street project. A hotel, fitness centre, offices and 14 apartments with vehicular and pedestrian access are part of the plans.
Cllr Cowell added: "I don't think the Hilton group will be happy to hang around for months or years until the project gets built. What then?
"As for Palm Court, they should move in quickly to clear the site so it doesn't look like an eyesore.
"When the Olympic flame comes to Torquay it will pass an area where there used to be a balloon, with a burnt-out hotel and a former shopping street which has been boarded up. What does that say about Torquay?"
A spokesman for Torbay Development Agency said: "We are liaising closely with the developer and its contractors on the works programme for the Palm Court site.
"We are anticipating it will be possible to start demolition work within a matter of weeks.
"The Palm Court and the Torwood Street schemes are independent. While we are keen to see both sites developed, we are pleased the developer is bringing forward the prime seafront scheme.
"It is a matter for the developer and its contractors, and not for Torbay Council or the TDA, to make decisions on the programming of its schemes."
Comments
by ThePFJ
Tuesday, May 15 2012, 10:01AM
“How about the irony in passing all the burnt out seafront hotels with a lighted flame. We could complete the picture with a tanker of methadone following behind.”
by Appyjack
Tuesday, May 15 2012, 9:52AM
“Will the torch go up in the balloon - or will the balloon go up with the torch!!
Oh yes - where is the balloon??”
by ivanovski
Monday, May 14 2012, 8:27PM
“Those who post here endlessly repeating that Torquay is an eyesore clearly do not travel very much. I have seen many town centres which are far less safe and amenable to be in than we have here. I have also been in conversation with a lot of tourists who never mention that they find the town to be the sort of "hell hole" that I keep reading about here.”
by RocketRon_
Sunday, May 13 2012, 7:37PM
“Torbay an eye-sore? Noooo shocker!!!.. Seems people like looking at dog poo, drug addicts, jobless scummers and smelly old pensioners.... Oh what joy.”
by themightyflea
Sunday, May 13 2012, 5:49PM
“Torch bearer will probably trip over the tacky trampoline 'attraction' (at £2.50 a shot) that the inept council officials have allowed to block the pavement by the slip opposite the burnt out Palm Court -----You couldn't make it up.”
by nicold
Friday, May 11 2012, 8:26PM
“Will Moses be dusted down for the occasion?”
by ThePFJ
Friday, May 11 2012, 8:13PM
“When the torch enters Torquay it will be swapped for a bottle of methadone and paraded around castle circus.”
by Appyjack
Friday, May 11 2012, 4:10PM
“What a load of tosh - it will take 15 seconds for the runner to pass any of these eyesores so who will notice?
Would it not be possible for some of the runners to accidentally trip en route .. and maybe "torch" some of the other far worse eyesores they will be passing? I am sure a few brown envelopes could be sorted out for them!!”
by Sinjis_Things
Friday, May 11 2012, 3:41PM
“People are worrying about what all these TV viewers will think when they see the Olympic flame in Torquay. Firstly, the flame will probably be filmed in good looking locations with crowds cheering it on it's way and secondly, Torquay looks no more an eyesore than a lot of towns in recession hit UK.”
by Leaklocate
Friday, May 11 2012, 2:38PM
“Combination? Red tape and developers 'rolling' money from one project to 'another' perhaps?”