Radical Proposals to improve Paignton Seafront

By seashopper | Tuesday, March 23, 2010, 16:39

A Paignton planning brief has caused a furore after suggesting that the Apollo Cinema – one of the town’s premier attractions - be knocked down to “restore the sea view from Torbay Road.”

Would knocking down the Apollo improve the spectacle of the seafront?

Within hours of the Herald Express reporting this, a Facebook group called Keep The Apollo Standing was created and it already has more than 1000 members. The page rallies against the idea saying “Don’t try to fix something that isn’t broken!!”

The brief - which went before Torbay councillors last week – sets out key considerations relating to the development of the area in the light of The Torbay Local Development Framework, Mayor’s Vision and the Community Plan.

It says that Paignton is vulnerable to out of town retail and as a result has suffered as a result of the recession.

The brief sets out its vision to “revitalise the area to boost its prosperity by the vision of appropriate facilities such as shopping, leisure and new homes within the Town Centre.”

Another radical idea suggested is the pedestrianisation of Torquay Road.

The report states that such change (coupled with restoration of the sea vista and iconic public art) could “establish Torbay Road as an important area for strolling eating strolling and bustle”.

The report goes on to say that the area could have a similar feel to the famous ‘Las Ramblas’ attraction in Barcelona.

To see the full brief click here

What are your views? Is there a method to the perceived madness? Can you imagine Paignton having an area similar to Las Ramblas?

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Comments

Smashing idea, lokal1. Get rid of the clinical Apollo monstrosity and replace it with the Windmill and gardens with its "WELCOME TO PAIGNTON" sign.

By Paigntoneer at 16:19 on 09/07/10
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Ha, poor old Mayor Bye

By oneoff1 at 16:18 on 29/03/10
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A little birdie twittered to me outside Tesco's that we should all wave "Bye-Bye" to old Paignton because the Gnomes of Cockington & the Chimeras of Oldway,
have with the Gnomes of Zurich agreed to present Paignton as a sacrificial Icon ( ala St.Sebastian ) after making The Mayor's visions real.

Perhaps Torbay will commission a community art project portraying our Mayor
sitting on a magic carpet flying over the Bay dropping his pearls of wisdom like an elegant
black-backed seagull, swooping over Station Square & Torbay Road.

Remember, He's a protected rare bird indeed!

By lokal1 at 14:26 on 26/03/10
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Put the gardens, shelter and windmill back where they were
before PUDC built the Festival Theatre, (now the Apollo)
because they were jealous of Torquay's Princess Theatre.

By lokal1 at 13:55 on 26/03/10
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It's easy to talk a good game... the council and Mr Bye certainly do that!

By baytec at 13:35 on 25/03/10
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