Letters Torquinian - 3 Feb 2012
Torquinians, how do you feel about where you live? What are its plusses, what its minuses? Beside the inherent location of our physical dwelling is there one thing that makes you incandescent?! Think hard, think fast, think outside the box because time is running out for us to justify this seaside town as a place worthy of our time and money or that of others.
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Letters Torquinian - 3 Feb 2012
Living in Torquay for almost a decade the decline is obvious. In a town centre where once there was an M&S now there is a Brighthouse; there are more than a handful of empty shops and a stutter of bric-a-brac outlets packed with custom! Personally I can live without Czech-rejected shampoo but to some these places are an oasis of financial worth; you could buy the contents of a shop like this for the price of high-end smoked salmon. Or so it would seem.
We also saw a blinding misdirection of funds with the recent deforest of Rock Walk and building of new walkways (upon which I often see no-one), the reduction in public service funding and a recent decision to spend £3million on repainting the loos at the Riviera Centre. We have the lowest levels of income and economic output per head both nationally and regionally and, not satisfied with screwing the businesses trying to make ends meet, the big house at The Circus imposed so many more parking charges that we are now in danger of being penalized at a red light.
Look, I am not in a race to disprove Torquay's haughty status as the English Riviera - I am only stating the bleedin' obvious - but there is most certainly a race. Nor do I want to make you feel any more depressed than you do already, but there is most certainly depression. If you were to organize an adhoc voxpop about Torquay anywhere in the country, barring the coal towns of mid-Wales or slums of Glasgow, the findings would be far from encouraging to the ear of the average Torquinian or their counsellor and that to me is an unacceptable result.
We have been a beacon of prosperity and a renowned holiday resort for two hundred years. At the very least we need to get back on our self-believing feet. We do this not with odd, ineffectual or seasonal local enterprise or prizes for businesses that have simply survived their first month of taxes, nor with a pointless purple flag or exorbitant balloon rides. We do this with solidarity and concentration on firm future safeguards.
We have developments and achievements to be proud of such as Torbay Hospital's position in the top 5 centres of national innovation, South Devon College's upcoming renewable energy training facility and the young people bursary awards provided by The Prince's Trust. This is the nourishment that will bring to our town strength and vitality. Who's With Me?!
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by Chelstonlass
Sunday, February 05 2012, 6:49PM
“I love Torquay! Its my home town as it was my parents before me. Yes there's plenty wrong with the place - the Leonard Stocks Centre is in the wrong area, the town is full of scroungers and addicts mostly from outside the area and there is a lot of poverty. Inspite of that when people ask me where I'm from, I'm proud to say Torquay and the response is normally something like " oh its lovely down there". It is - weve got lovely natural scenery and often the best weather in the country. Unfortunately anyone reading some of these comments will think its a town full of petty minded, cheap point scoring moaning minnies. I'm pleased to say I don't move in your circle - get off your backsides and do something about it rather than live life through your PC. You could even think of moving away!”
by Rose361
Sunday, February 05 2012, 12:29PM
“by Pelagian
Sunday, February 05 2012, 9:07AM
(Sic) Besides Jimmy, you live in Paignton (Sic)
Wrong again fella..”
by Pingu007
Sunday, February 05 2012, 11:06AM
“Oh, yawn.
Stop moaning and DO something then?
Who did you vote for in the recent mayoral election? Who did you vote for in your local council elections? Did YOU stand?
Where are your ideas? Six paragraphs of whinging, and no proposals to actually change things.
Typical Torbay.”
by FrankEinstein
Sunday, February 05 2012, 9:56AM
“Everyone who lives in Paignton says they live in Torquay, it's social climbing.”
by Pelagian
Sunday, February 05 2012, 9:07AM
“by Rose361
Saturday, Feburary 4 2012, 6:43PM
."What utter drivel..If this so called "viewer" actual read the "views" on here he wouldn't need to ask how we feel about "Torquinians, how do you feel about where you live?"
People would be hard pressed to gauge public sentiment from the comments on this website because most of them are either barely comprehensible rants about senior citizens from you or more intelligent people taking you to task for your attitude .
Besides Jimmy, you live in Paignton.”
by Chunder123
Sunday, February 05 2012, 7:54AM
“Look at all these little things! So busy now. NOtice how each one is useful. What a lovely ballet ensues. Think about all the people that created them, technicians, engineers. Meet me at my factory
Zorg”
by FrankEinstein
Saturday, February 04 2012, 10:28PM
“People don't come to Torquay anymore because they have had enough of druggies, dossers and criminals where they live, they want something different on holiday, all we can offer is more of the same.”
by code01803
Saturday, February 04 2012, 6:45PM
“I agree with TorquayToby.
Torquay is almost dead and something needs to be done but is it too late.
The Mayor is week and hardly says a word and what he does say is nonsense.
I went to town the other day and went into WH Smith to buy a Herald Express, this weeks, what a waste of money that was, I paid 50p to park in Abbey Road, got opposite WH Smith and looked up the town centre towards the Town Hall, it was like a desert, NO ONE WAS AROUND, that was a 11.30am. I bought the Herald Express and what a complete waste of money that was, full of adverts, there was 2 pages of news, hardly anything worth reading, in the first seven pages, poor show Herald Express, needless to say I will not be buying it again, even if you get free jelly with it.
I will continue to read it on the net, what is it with the Facebook page, you cannot become a friend as too many are awaiting to join it. The problem with this website is you have people who are banned but keep rejoining it under other names and hiding behind a false IP Address. These people spoil a good website because of they are often crude and slating other users, that puts people off of writing on here.
It takes an outsiders from the Bay to put remarks up here, Cherrie54, who does not read the hard copy of the paper, to put us all in place. FrankEinstein I am sure is a new name for the illustrious Austrian who was a woman and now is a man.
There is no hope for Bay as long as you have the Mayor and his councillors and our present M.P.”
by Rose361
Saturday, February 04 2012, 6:43PM
“What utter drivel..If this so called "viewer" actual read the "views" on here he wouldn't need to ask how we feel about "Torquinians, how do you feel about where you live?"
Clearly does not read this papers forum.
Again, utter self opinionated drivel.”
by FrankEinstein
Saturday, February 04 2012, 5:28PM
“A short walk from the Town Hall we have Thurlow House. A probation report centre, it is in the middle of a residential area, hence burgulary and petty crime has shot up in that area. Torbay Council seem to be saying come to Torquay, but only if you are homeless, have an addiction or criminal record.”