What's the alternative? When criticism of the Mayoral Vision is printed in the Herald Express a common retort is 'Well, I don't hear you coming up with any ideas'. Well, to my mind it's not really the place of the residents of Torbay to do the Mayor's job for him, but these are some of the things I would like form the basis of an alternative agenda:
1. Make the regeneration of Torquay as a retail and commercial centre a priority. Fundamental to this, I believe, is reduced or free parking for potential shoppers, and the cancellation of any plans for parking meters anywhere in the Bay.
2. End the spending on consultants. From the letters I have read in the Herald Express over the last thirteen years there are many local residents out there with a wealth of expertise and ideas who would, I'm sure, be glad to give their services for free. Torbay has a high percentage of retired people with all sorts of skills - we should be making use of this fantastic resource.
3. Stop making ridiculous promises about the future. The town's problems will not be solved by a series of unconnected developments like a hotel here and a casino there, and it is foolish to imply that this kind of thing, together with a positive attitude from the locals is the answer - it isn't.
4. If we must have a second casino in a prominent waterside position put it on the Living Coasts site. I believe Living Coasts has been attracting a great deal fewer visitors than was originally predicted, and will continue to lose money. The result will either be closure and another prime site empty again, or subsiding by the taxpayer.
5. Stop making ridiculous comparisons. In the 'city idea' in the Mayoral Vision Torbay is compared with Oxford because of its population. This is crazy: Torbay is not a year-round tourist attraction with the oldest university in the English-speaking world. On parking charges the Mayor compared Torbay with Brighton, a thriving university city just an hour from London.
6. Stop talking about how wonderful things will be in 10 or 20 years' time if we all think positively. The problems of today need to be solved sooner rather than later.
7. Consult local people and listen to them - hoteliers, shopkeepers, bar owners, etc.
8. Instead of trying to trying to attract mythical high-spending visitors, think about all-weather attractions which will be popular with locals and visitors alike. I think we should be focusing on children, because children are always accompanied by their parents, and when the kids are happy the parents are happy, so they come back.
9. Stop trying to earmark green areas around the Bay for sale and development. This is just a desperation tactic which will yield some cash in the short term, but will have disastrous consequences in the long-term.
I'm sure other people can think of many other things to add to my list, which is only meant to show that there are others ways to move the Bay forward.
2 comments:
I am only going to comment on point 8. Why couldnt they have built at the old Coral Island.
1. A new swimming pool.
2.Sundry shops, but no 2 the same.
next floor.
3.A roller rink, doubling as a place for skateborders,nominal charge...£2 per hour.
4. Ice rink above that.
5. More specialised shopping areas with a creche for visiting families.
6.Open roof terrace for summer dances and restaurant.
This latter one could have a closing roof for the bad weather that we do get on occasions...
Then DONT try and make all the money back for building it, in the next 3 years and consequently put the shops out of business.
Let each concern run itself and lets not have another white elephant a la E.R.C when "None of the tax payers money will be used to fund it"..remember that old chestnut.
Good article - couldn't agree more!
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