Paignton Harbour on a sunny day!
I guess that I am a little sad because
I still have copies of two very glossy publications. The first is a large
coffee table edition of ‘The New English Riviera – Action Framework’ which has
page after page of beautiful photographs, colourful maps and stunning
architectural drawings. The other is a smaller version of the other and called ‘The
New English Riviera – The Mayor’s Vision for the future of Torbay’. Again this
smaller book is packed with stunning colour images, plans and clever little
sketches.
Both publications give detail of
former mayor Nick Bye’s vision for Torbay. Even in the day his vision seemed a
little optimistic given the local enthusiasm for change but a number of good
things did happen. But goodness knows how much the consultancy cost, but
doubtless it ran into hundreds of thousands of pounds. These things have a
habit of doing that.
Sources tell me that when Nick lost
the election the publications were tossed to one side by his successor. I guess
therefore that the ‘Mayor’s Vision’ also disappeared at the same time. Whether
you think the visions were a call to action or simply an optimistic aspiration might
now be something to debate. What cannot be argued, as I say, is the huge amount
of money invested in ‘The Mayor’s Vision’ at the time.
Mayor Oliver seems to have dreams
rather than visions which include amongst other things the construction of an
extra quay to accommodate visiting luxury cruise ships and a skyline of cranes
as investors flood into the English Riviera. As was the case in the ‘Mayor’s
Vision’ the new dreams inevitably attract large consultancy fees. The latest
scheme doing the rounds at heaven knows what cost is the Torbay Harbour
Authority Port Master Plan. The document giving full details of this coastal
assessment is 59 pages long and is actually an interesting read. The consultancy
legwork has been done by Royal
HaskoningDHV one of Europe’s leading independent project management, engineering
and consultancy service providers. Based in Amersfoort in The
Netherlands, Royal HaskoningDHV has
a turnover in excess of euro 700 million! The Port Master Plan is in the public
comment stage and is worth reading. You might also like to have your say. As a
voter it is your right and as a resident you really ought to make the effort.
What they
have to say about the Paignton bit of the Torbay Harbour Authority Master Plan
is quite interesting. “Paignton Harbour is remote from the town centre, railway
station and bus station which are all approximately an 800m walk. Walking
routes between the harbour and town centre are numerous and poorly defined and
cycling is entirely on road. Signposting is poor. At Paignton Harbour there is
an existing multi storey car park which is currently underutilised.” Hmm. I can
remember a time when Paignton Harbour was a major tourist attraction and hugely
popular with locals also. Yet now it seems to have been forgotten by Torbay. This
Port Master Plan tells an unpleasant truth and indeed highlights a worry when
you consider the hundreds of thousands spent on tourism attracting folk to
Torbay for holidays! A little joined up thinking might be useful.
When Gordon Oliver picked up the
batten from Nick Bye he said that he wanted to end the mayoral system. It seems
now that he has had a change of mind and is seeking re-election in 2015! That
is a worry I feel because the mayoral system places too much power in the hands
of one person allowing visions and dreams to become a reality with too often unintended
consequences. One obvious consequence is the complete waste of thousands of
pounds by flip-flopping policy.
Personally I would like to see an end
to the mayoral system here in Torbay. I can just about see the benefit in
larger cities but we are simply too small and lack the administrative
resources. Even though we elect local ward councillors their power to influence
is marginalised by a system that gives one person almost absolute power.
This is your community and you do have
a say in what happens. Perhaps this is the time when we should start to look
around and decide exactly what we do want for Torbay. Look out for the public
consultations, bang on the doors of local councillors and let our mayor know
how you feel.
Certainly reality checks rather than
mystical visions and dreams might be a step in the right direction. Building a
better future has to start with sorting out the here and now!
Keep the smile.
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