“Totally agree with you. I don't think many people used it and ironically it never seemed to be up because of the wind but it seemed strange driving passed this morning and it not being there. Torquay has little else to offer tourists at the moment.”

“Not bad news its down. Lets hope it is permanently down as it is a complete waste of airspace.”

“That's my point, Isolde. It has been a talking point and an attraction for visitors. Heaven knows we need a few of those!”

“If they don't put the Balloon back up they could still charge people to enter the fenced off grass area as the only piece of Torquay that isn't littered with dog poo. £1 per hour. It has CCTV as well so you would have little chance of being mugged at knife point.”

“The boil has finally been lanced let's hope it doesn't reappear after all it does nothing for Torquay”

“@CharlieCroker

Totally disagree with you and I believe I am in the majority.

The local public have had to put up with the tethered down ugly gas-holder more than 80% of the time. It's visual effect on the surrounding was depressing. Even when raised it was not a patch on the beauty and magic of a hot-air balloon.”

“Sorry charlie I think you are in the minority. The ballon was in the wrong spot was never ever going to be an attractive ride all year round.It is by it's very nature reliant on calm weather and still days whoever heard of no sea breeze all year round. No an eye is far better they are more reliable can opperate all year except for exceptional circumstances.Are more modern and in up keeping with the bay. While the balloon has got very dirty and shabby to look at as well as daft looking sat on the park ground for most of the time. Even in summer it was used in less than 2 days out of seven.”

“Absolutely not ! what they need is a wheel that can be used all weathers and constantly, also takes more people=more money. The one on Plymouth hoe did
great business when I was there.”

“Wheel sounds a better idea. If the ground would take it. Cheaper rides and more people on it.”

“That balloon thing, although a relatively popular attraction, was an eyesore on Torquay seafront and ruined the surrounding gardens. Therefore, in my opinion, it should be sited somewhere where it would not stand out so much as an eyesore.

Also knowing that the seafront is susceptible to inclement weather I surprised that it was sited in such a stupid place.”

“I have been up in the balloon and it was better than I anticipated. Even though there was no discernible wind, it was still disconcerting and exciting and you certainly felt any breeze that went by. I took fantastic photos also

Mind you I was given free tickets and certainly wouldn't have gone up at the present prices. I would say charge £5...they would get more people to use it then! I hope it comes back, as long as the Council doesn't have to subsidise it!”

“The balloon itself was an eyesore but more to do with the colour or lack of it, make it colourfull like a hot air balloon or like many say a wheel, whatever is put there people are gonna moan unfortunatley.”

“I agree with yorkshireone, the existing balloon is so bland. Some of the balloons that actually fly are rather stunning and I'm sure that more could have been done to make this one more attractive.”

“How about having rainbow stripes on it with a slogan such as 'Torbay council providing utopia to everyone regardless of race, disability, drug addiction or pure bone idleness', I think we would all come to love the balloon then !!!”

“It was priced slightly too high, was too dependant on good weather with low wind speeds so was a bit of a white elephant as it looked slightly cheap and tacky.

Weston-Super-Mare has a very good smaller-scale version of the London Eye which would have been a real boon for the seafront. This summer is going to look pretty shabby down there with a burst ballon and two burned out hotels.”

“What a shame, i will no longer be able to see this eyesore froom Dartmoor or looking across the bay from Brixhhamm”

“Yes!!! At last we have our view back. Seriously though, why pay so much for 10 minutes flight when you can get 30 minutes for the same price on the milenium wheel in London and possibly Plymouth. As far as it being ripped to shreds, do I not remember a warning from local fisherman about the effect that the winds were likely to have if the baloon were to be sited in its current position.Of course they were ignored at the time but who better that the local fisherman would know the effect of the winds?”

“I went along the seafront today and noticed how much better the seafront looks without the awful balloon.”

“I agree with the earlier comments regarding its colour. A boring white blob is an eysore and not an attraction in itself, only for what it delivers. However if it was multicoloured it might be nice to look at in its own right.”

“The Balloon was a brave attempt to provide a further tourist attraction. The problem is that it is sited on public open space and was "bulldozed" through by the Council under the previous elected Mayor, defying the restrictive legal covenants of Cary Estates on the basis that it would not be financially viable for the CE to take legal action. If that was the case I think it was morally indefensible. A public body should comply with the law no matter how inconvenient it might be for their plans and ambitions. It set an unfortunate precedent about letting off public open space. For that reason alone I hope it does not return.”