logo
Popular UK seaside resort once dubbed ‘a hellhole' to undergo £70million upgrade with new restaurants and 154-room hotel

Popular UK seaside resort once dubbed ‘a hellhole' to undergo £70million upgrade with new restaurants and 154-room hotel

Scottish Sun05-05-2025

Locals said they don't feel safe walking with drug paraphernalia on the ground
SANDS GOOD Popular UK seaside resort once dubbed 'a hellhole' to undergo £70million upgrade with new restaurants and 154-room hotel
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
BRITAIN'S "very bad" seaside spot is getting a whopping £70million revamp to become a posh new destination.
The iconic harborside is set to become home to a swanky hotel to counter locals who have been left bitterly disappointed with their beloved landscape.
5
Torquay harbourside will be getting a £70million revamp
Credit: Torbay Council
5
The popular seaside spot is now set to go be the site of a sparkling new hotel
Credit: Torbay Council
5
Locals are fuming at the fly-tipping and drug paraphernalia on the floor
Credit: Devon Live/BPM
Residents Torquay harbourside, Devon, were gutted that their beautiful town was being trashed, with litter and drugs paraphernalia left around.
Fuming homeowners, dog walkers and families are scared to walk down some streets, meanwhile, visitors are leaving the once bustling hotspot disappointed.
One scathing local said the situation was "very bad" and claimed the council aren't stepping up to resolve it, as reported by DevonLive.
"We have contacted the council, the police and Swisco (street cleaning and maintenance company), but haven't heard back from any of them," they said.
Pointing at a pile of litter, they added: "It annoys me when you read all these pieces about Torquay being such a lovely place, yet, just two minutes from where the tourists walk up and down, you have this horrendous thing.'
Horrified residents have also said they have seen the area increasingly plagued by drug use - exacerbated by a lack of police presence.
However, Torbay Council has announced that the area is set to be the site of a huge £70million regeneration scheme, aimed to tackle the "horrendous" harbourside.
It has shared a plan that councillors believe will "revolutionise" the popular town.
The Strand area, a former Debenhams store, will be the site of a " high-quality landmark" hotel with a staircase connecting the harbourside with The Terrace.
With views of the harbour, the soon-to-be hotel will boast 154 rooms and a luxurious space on the ground floor.
Fly-through video shows what major Scots city will look like after huge £20m revamp
It's predicted that the development will provide about 80 full-time jobs, £32m in paychecks, and entice 86,000 new visitors to Torquay in the first 30 years.
The Strand was bought up in 2020 with planning granted in 2023 when Wilmott Dixon and Milligan appointed as Torbay's regeneration partners
Stuart Harris, CEO for Milligan, said: "This is more than just a regeneration project - it's about delivering something truly special for the town, blending high-quality design with exceptional experiences.
"One of the key design features is a striking new staircase, which will enhance the public realm and provide a seamless connection between the harbourside and The Terrace improving connectivity to the Hilton, Premier Inn, and car park."
The designs are still in the works with Torbay council claiming they want to include "historical elements" in the final design.
Residents are able to give their say in summer when the final plans are released with results in early 2026.
Torbay council assured locals that no buildings will be demolished until they get the go-ahead from residents.
5
Residents have been complaining about litter on Belgrave Road, Torquay
Credit: Devon Live/BPM

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Scots mum furious as stranger approaches daughter on bus with sinister question
Scots mum furious as stranger approaches daughter on bus with sinister question

Daily Record

time5 hours ago

  • Daily Record

Scots mum furious as stranger approaches daughter on bus with sinister question

Stacey Waddell is raising awareness after the disturbing incident on a bus this week. A Scots mum is hoping to raise awareness after claiming a man asked her teen daughter if she wanted a 'draw of his vape'. The alleged incident happened at around 11.30am on Tuesday, June 10, while the 13-year-old was travelling home from school on the X28 bus service from Deans in Livingston. ‌ Mum-of-three Stacey Waddell, 35, says she was worried there was spice in the vape - a nickname for a lab-made drug - synthetic cannabinoid, reports Edinburgh Live. ‌ After the worrying interaction, the mum reported the incident to police and suitable advice was given to the family. Stacey said: "This all happened on Tuesday. She was sent home from school because she wasn't feeling well. "A male approached her who looked around 18 or 19-years-old. He said 'this sounds a bit strange but I have been asking a lot of people - do you want a draw of my vape?' "She said no and he watched her get off the bus. When she got home she told me everything and I had to explain to her that I had heard so many stories of people using vapes laced with spice. I mean this incident could have been innocent but I am glad she told me and didn't take anything." Stacey is hoping to warn other parents and also spread awareness around the dangers of vaping and drug misuse due to the fear of what's inside them. She added: "A lot of people get the X28 and X27 to school and I just want to warn people about what could be happening to children. ‌ "You just don't know what could be in these vapes. I have a dealt with a lot in the past. "I am always on high alert because I have a 16-year-old so I have to be aware of the dangers of drugs. It's a scary world out there, especially for bringing teenagers up. "Children might think what they are doing is innocent but they can't see what it's doing to their insides or what it could do to their mental health as well. ‌ "My daughter is only 13 so it's worrying we are having these conversations. I never had this when I was younger - children aren't getting to be kids anymore." A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'Around 2.20pm on Tuesday, 10 June, 2025, we received a report of a man having approached a girl on a bus in the area of Knightsridge West Road, Livingston. 'Enquiries were carried out and no criminality was established. Suitable advice was given.'

Woman, 21, rushed to hospital after ‘stabbing' in Scots town as 31-year-old suspect charged
Woman, 21, rushed to hospital after ‘stabbing' in Scots town as 31-year-old suspect charged

Scottish Sun

time11 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Woman, 21, rushed to hospital after ‘stabbing' in Scots town as 31-year-old suspect charged

It comes as fears rise over Scotland's escalating knife crime wave BLADE 'ATTACK' Woman, 21, rushed to hospital after 'stabbing' in Scots town as 31-year-old suspect charged A WOMAN has been rushed to hospital after being injured in an alleged stabbing in a Scottish town. The alleged incident is said to have unfolded on Little Nursery in Montrose yesterday afternoon. Advertisement 2 Emergency services raced to Little Nursery in Montrose Credit: GOOGLE MAPS A 21-year-old was found injured after the alleged attack in broad daylight as officers swarmed the area. Police scrambled to the scene at around 12.30pm after the alarm was raised over reports of a knife assault. The woman was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance for treatment. The extent of her injuries and her current condition are not known. Advertisement Cops quickly launched an investigation into the alleged stabbing. And officers have now confirmed that a man, aged 31, has been arrested and charged in connection with the alleged incident. He is due to appear at Forfar Sheriff Court sometime today. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'Around 12.30pm on Wednesday, 11 June, 2025, we were called to a report of an assault on Little Nursery, Montrose. Advertisement 'Emergency services attended, and a 21-year-old woman was taken to hospital for treatment. 'A 31-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the incident. Inmate who stabbed prison guard revealed as serial knifeman Muslim convert who once said it 'felt good to hurt someone' 'He is due to appear at Forfar Sheriff Court on Thursday, 12 June, 2025.' The latest alleged incident comes weeks after we told how John Swinney was warned his 'weak and reckless' justice system is costing lives amid alarm at a deadly knife crime wave. Advertisement And it comes amid a 'sickening' 600 per cent rise in serious assaults committed in five years - most of which by young teens. Scottish Tories leader Russell Findlay accused the First Minister of 'fuelling youth violence'. The Holyrood showdown came after day tripper Kayden Moy, 16, was allegedly stabbed to death at Irvine beach in Ayrshire on May 17. In a separate reported incident, another teen was allegedly stabbed at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh the day before. Advertisement Meanwhile, Scotland's top cop called for a crackdown on violence in schools after we revealed a boy of seven allegedly took a blade into Heathfield Primary in Ayr to attack another pupil. We also told earlier this week how a 10-year-old lad was threatened with a blade by a tearaway classmate in Kilmarnock. A boy of the same age was reported to authorities over the incident. Earlier this month, a 14-year-old thug was locked up for five years for killing Kory McCrimmon, 16, in Glasgow in a fight over £50. Advertisement And a group of teenagers are currently facing charges in connection with the death of 15-year-old Glasgow teen Amen Teklay.

Scots cops deployed after THIRD night of riots as petrol bombs thrown & masked yobs trash centre ‘for fleeing locals'
Scots cops deployed after THIRD night of riots as petrol bombs thrown & masked yobs trash centre ‘for fleeing locals'

Scottish Sun

time13 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Scots cops deployed after THIRD night of riots as petrol bombs thrown & masked yobs trash centre ‘for fleeing locals'

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SCOTS cops have been ordered into riot torn Ballymena in Northern Ireland after three nights of 'racist thuggery'. The Police Service of Northern Ireland asked for extra support under mutual aid arrangements following violent scenes in the County Antrim town. 6 A rioter walks past flames as PSNI officers in riot gear respond to a third night of civil unrest in Ballymena, Northern Ireland Credit: Getty 6 Scots cops have been drafted in to support the PSNI Credit: Getty 6 A demonstrator faces a group of riot police vehicles as riots continue Credit: Reuters The deployment will involve an undisclosed number of public order officers who are trained to police civil unrest. A total of 32 PSNI officers have been injured since the protests over an alleged sexual assault began on Monday night. Last night (WED) unrest also spread to other towns. In Larne, masked youths attacked a leisure centre and set it on fire. The centre had been providing emergency shelter for families following the clashes earlier this week. The force's assistant chief constable, Ryan Henderson, said they would be "surging a significant number of extra officers" into affected areas. He described the violence as "racist thuggery targeted at ethnic minorities and police officers". The force confirmed the deployment, but declined to comment further. Mutual aid agreements are uncommon and are generally "incident based," according to the National Police Chiefs' Council. ACC Henderson said: "As part of my forward planning I have now activated the request for mutual aid resources from policing colleagues in Great Britain to ensure we have the necessary support to maintain public order and bring offenders to justice in the days to come." Horror moment Ballymena rioter accidentally sets himself on FIRE with Molotov cocktail as violence spreads in 2nd night Protesters in Ballymena have targeted officers with petrol bombs, bricks and fireworks during disorder on Monday and Tuesday. The first protest was organised hours after two teenage boys appeared before Coleraine Magistrates' Court . They spoke through an interpreter in Romanian to confirm their names and ages. Their solicitor said they would be denying the charges. 6 Fire burns near a demonstrator as riots continue Credit: Reuters 6 Police aim a water cannon at demonstrators Credit: Reuters 6 Fireworks thrown at Riot Police illuminate the road Credit: AFP The PSNI said there have also been sporadic incidents of disorder in Carrickfergus, north Belfast and Newtownabbey, where one man was arrested. So far, one man, aged 29, has been charged with riotous behaviour, disorderly behaviour, attempted criminal damage and resisting police after Monday's violence.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store