Iconic Devon town's colossal makeover has everyone talking

Devon Live readers have been discussing the revitalisation efforts at Torquay's harbourside are nearing completion, which promise a fresh look for one of the town's most prominent areas. The ambitious project, aimed at transforming the Strand into a visitor-friendly boulevard, stands out as a significant town development over recent decades.

Now approaching its final stages, the Harbour Public Realm works are close to winding up. To allow these last undertakings, the area has been temporarily closed off to vehicles, with Torbay Council eager to unveil it for the upcoming Bay of Lights Illumination Trail set for November 29.

Much of the pathway paving is already in place, spanning Cary Parade to Victoria Parade with generous promenades. This upgrade of Torquay's harbourside in Devon has received varied feedback from the local community.

Here is what some of our readers had to say about the work so far - DMBristol writes: "As someone who uses the harbour area a lot in the summer, I have to congratulate the contractors on how well they kept the traffic flowing through these works. I feared the worst, but they did a brilliant job."

High Flyer says: "I'm looking forward to see how they've incorporated some of the old Tram Tracks, as promised."

Onceofthisparish adds: "It looks very nice and a great improvement. Wouldn't it be nice if the people commenting could be a little more enthusiastic. Stop the negativity!"

Worriedbythefuture replies: "Give me a reason to be positive about the complete waste of money and resources used to create a space that has no purpose?"

Nikos adds: "Spot on, our council are great at spending our money on all the wrong things. There's still OLDWAY waiting in the shadows! Then we have the pavilion - no takers. PS, Whatever been done so far is ugly, looks like a kids playground."

Spottyginger writes: "Not one single effort has been made to provide public protection from wind or rain, provide adequate seating or rubbish bins. Yet the Council go ahead willy-nilly paying companies to build hotels that are beyond the financial reach of most Brits, and many tourists. Deplorable."

Tqdevonian adds: "The area is not finished. There is due to be extensive seating next to the harbour area looking towards the water and towards the new planting plus lots of rubbish bins in appropriate places."

Stdavidecho says: "Those small paving slabs are a menace. Inevitably somebody drives a lorry on them (and they will) and you have a trip hazard when they stick up at odd angles or start rocking. The ones in Exeter's Queen St (especially by the Clock Tower) are an example of this. Delivery lorries and utilities' vehicles nearly always wreck these pavements. Google street view 2022 of Queen St , Exeter actually shows an unmarked telecom vehicle on the pavement. Until we get some robust laws about vehicles on pavements or start building paved areas to standards that will support a 3 ton and above lorry then small slabs will eventually become hazardous. Admittedly they look better than alternatives but then a broken hip never looks good."

Tqdevonian replies: "Equipment far heavier than 3 tons have been using the paving during construction. The paving is quite robust and big lorries would have no reason to use it, as a loading area has been constructed opposite."

Brexitisdead mentions: "This work has caused great disruption to local drivers and, frankly, wasn't needed as the area was just fine as it was. I can think of so many other areas crying out for regeneration that have just been ignored - such as Crossways in Paignton. I never cease to be amazed at our local councils ability to waste tax payers money on vanity projects."

Tormead adds: "Looking forward to seeing the finished job, high time Torquay had some money spent on it."

Samesh1tdifferentday writes: "Extortionate amount of money and time to basically widen a pavement - I’ve always liked the harbour area and feel this transformation was an unnecessary expense and money would have been better spent elsewhere."

MB8901 believes: "It is a disgusting waste of tax payers money. The area could have been spruced up a lot cheaper than that and leaving the bus stops where they were. The finish quality is not great either."

Pashanicos agrees: "How much????? Just for some paving slabs? What does it do for the area? The council love wasting tax payers money. Turned Crossways into another car park I see??????"

Greenie 1 adds: "Walked past it today I can’t believe it has taken so long and has cost so much money."

However, Hesketh123 thinks: "What a depressing load of negative comments. Just move away if you don’t like what’s going on. At least this council has got things moving, unlike the last terrible bunch of self seekers under whom the area stagnated for their entire tenure. So many on here live in the past and want nothing to change."

So what do you think of the work on the area so far? Let us know in the comments below or HERE.