Work on the biggest transformation project that Torquay has seen in decades is continuing. The Strand 'public realm project' involves giving the area a 'piazza'-style, market square touch with the landmark Clock Tower at the centre of the regeneration project.

The second phase of the scheme is currently taking place. During Phase 2, the Strand will be reduced to a single lane of traffic, with traffic management measures will be in operation at the junctions of Torwood Street, Victoria Parade and Strand junctions

The next phase of the project will take place in the summer. During this phase of work is when the biggest changes to the road layout will be made.

But in a letter to our sister print title the Herald Express, one person writes that they despair at the cock-eyed manner in which Torbay Council does things. They say that the whole job has been done ‘bottom about face’.

Read the full letter below

While I have reservations about the wisdom of redeveloping the Strand, I do despair sometimes at the cock-eyed manner in which the council does things.

In the case of the Strand, its the order of the work that is being done that ignores basic common sense. In changing the layout of the road, creating an open space and then redeveloping the Debenhams site is, to paraphrase a traditional Anglo-Saxon phrase, to do the job, ‘bottom about face’.

Is this how councillors decorate their houses? When decorating a room, having stripped everything out, do they fit a brand new carpet and then paint the ceiling? If they did, what would you think? Cock-eyed, or what?

But, I do hope everything goes well with the work. After all, in recent times, some building projects in the bay haven’t run, well, smoothly, shall we say. Users of the main road between Torquay and Paignton will remember how long it took to repair the railway bridge at Livermead: a year, was it? Hopefully, that group of workers aren’t involved with the harbour works. Whichever company has been been engaged to complete the harbour works, one big issue of concern is whether they remain solvent or not. We have had a few building companies go broke mid-contract in Torbay, so fingers crossed everyone is being paid.

Let’s all hope, al la Torbay Road in Paignton, that after spending loads of money to finish the job, and when the traffic is still snarled up, that the local traders don’t have to go marching to the town hall after which, the council dig it all up and restore the layout that has worked really, really well, for what, half a century?

Sticking with the debacle at Torbay Road, the really big and worrying question in my mind is this: does the council have any blue paint left? If they do, and just in case Swisco and the council’s big nobs still aren’t talking to one another, please, please, it really would not be a good idea to use it up on the Strand.

Alan Payling

Torquay