New library will be named after Bay Queen of Crime

DAME Agatha Christie (pictured) will be honoured in the renaming of the new-look Paignton library, it has been confirmed.

The new library at Station Road, Paignton, will be renamed the Agatha Christie Library and Community Centre in new plans to make the world famous author central to the Bay's tourism strategy.

The English Riviera's Geopark status will also be the main brands to market the Bay next year.

Mayor Nick Bye agreed the new tourism strategy at Tuesday's cabinet meeting.

He said: "Other areas have made much more out of much less.

"This is a way we can make much more of what we already have here."

The decision comes after the Agatha Christie Estate agreed to make the English Riviera the main focus for the 2010 celebrations of the 120th anniversary of Dame Agatha's birth, the 90th anniversary of the creation of Hercule Poirot and the 80th anniversary of Miss Marple as a character in her books.

The relocation of the Agatha Christie bust to a more prominent location on Torquay seafront or at Abbey Park, and branding the paving in Torquay with markers as part of the re-launch of the Agatha Christie Mile have been agreed as part of the celebrations.

The council currently spends £14,000 supporting the Christie brand.

The Bay's Geopark status will be used to promote the resort as a place with greater environmental credentials, and as a location with great natural beauty.

Torbay is the world's only urban Geopark.

There is a chance of becoming a sister park with a Geopark being developed in Hong Kong.

Cabinet member Cllr Christine Schouler said: "This is a fantastic opportunity to enhance the Agatha Christie theme.

"Agatha Christie stories are currently being screened on television or on film so we are on a winning streak with this one."