THE man heading up Torbay's regeneration plans has said sorry for not consulting fully with a community partnership over the plans for public toilets at a Torquay beauty spot.

Steve Parrock, chief executive of the Torbay Development Agency, has issued an official apology to the Babbacombe and St Marychurch Community Partnership over the Babbacombe Downs site.

The loos are now at the centre of a huge row as plans progress to convert the building into a £400,000 fish restaurant.

One of the biggest complaints from protesters is that they were never made fully aware of the plans.

Mr Parrock has now written to Chris Howell, vice chairman of the partnership, explaining why it was not consulted on the future of the 'loo with a view' when the possibility of redevelopment was first identified in 2008.

The partnership should have been one of three consulted two years ago about options to improve three of the Bay's decrepit sea-view toilet blocks in Torquay, Paignton and Brixham.

Mr Parrock said, while the partnerships in the other locations were talked to, the Babbacombe meeting did not take place as originally planned.

He said: "Officers had intended to consult but I understand the scheduled meeting did not take place as envisaged.

"I can confirm the Babbacombe and St Marychurch Community Partnership was advised of the intention to seek private sector proposals via an email to stakeholders in May, 2008, and as far as I am aware no objections were received prior to the release of the current proposals in 2009.

"However, 'notification' does not constitute 'consultation' in my opinion. We should have consulted with the partnership but we didn't and we apologise."

Mr Parrock said a senior officer, who had been due to go to the original meeting two years ago, could not attend and the present TDA team, which took over the project shortly after, was unaware of this.

He added: "A May, 2008, public advertisement and press release seeking proposals to re-provide the toilets were emailed to the respective partnerships and ward councillors."

He said there was no feedback during 2008. But when restaurant owner Nigel Bloxham's plans for the Downs emerged 'many months' later interest increased.

Mr Parrock said: "It is regretful that the community partnership was not consulted."

Mr Howell said he appreciated Mr Parrock's apology.

He added: "I accept that he is going out of his way to say things went wrong and rather than taking a dogmatic attitude he admitted to getting it wrong.

"I look forward to having a more constructive meeting with him in the future to, hopefully, get things resolved."

Ward councillor Alan Faulkner, a fierce opponent of the fish restaurant scheme, said: "We were blamed by the council for the lack of public consultation but it had nothing to do with us. It was not our fault.

"Had it been handled properly from the start, it would have saved money and time. We could have said 'no' straight away and that would have been the end of the matter."

Mayor Nick Bye and the cabinet have backed the restaurant proposals which have yet to be lodged with planners.

Cllr Faulkner added: "The TDA will apologise but I'm not sure Nick Bye will."

Deputy mayor Cllr Chris Lewis has asked objectors to 'draw a line' under the lack of consultation and have proper consultation over the plans now being proposed.

He said: "We could have been more pro-active in talking to the community partnerships in 2008.

"But it's not like people didn't know. There were stories in the Herald Express in May and August, 2008, and we took an advert about the opportunities for redeveloping the three loos with a view.

"If there was such a strong opposition to the idea why didn't the partnerships get in touch with us and ask for public meetings and consultation?

"We could have been more pro-active but they didn't put their hand up either. It's a two-way process."

Cllr Lewis said it was time the community moved on and concentrated their efforts on the current plans.

He said: "Let's draw a line under all that and have proper consultation over the plans. We're trying to help the Bay but if people don't want it after seeing the detailed plans so be it. It will be up to the planning committee to decide."