LOCALS and business owners in a town once dubbed “one of the worst in the UK” have revealed they feel “embarrassed” by the state of the town centre.
Torquay in South Devon was dubbed the “Queen of the English Riviera” due to its mild climate, picture-perfect beaches and links to Agatha Christie.
Neil HopeDilapidated shop stores line the town’s centre[/caption]
Neil HopeShop owners say business is down[/caption]
Neil HopeTorquay was voted one of Brits’ least favourite towns[/caption]
But last year a Which? survey named Torquay as Brits’ least favourite town.
Scored across categories including value for money, food and drink, accommodation, cultural sights, ease of getting around and lack of crowds, Torquay only managed to achieve an overall score of 58 per cent.
When The Sun visited during the Easter school holidays which should be a thriving time for family getaways in the tourism-centric town we found just a small trickle of people.
While the pedestrianised shopping area contained 17 empty shops, some of which looked like they had been closed for some time.
Lee Dixon who runs Dixon’s Real Deal, an antique and amateur radio shop in the town’s indoor market said: “I feel embarrassed about the town centre, I almost want to apologise to people.
“They come down here on holiday from up country and think ‘what the hell is this?’ because Torquay isn’t the same place they remember even just from a few years ago,
“It’s gone really quiet and people aren’t coming into town as much as they used to.
“More of us are having to trade more online, we all prefer face to face business but it’s not happening. The shop is just glorified storage really.
“It makes no sense, I don’t understand why we are being charged such extortionate rates.
“The council say they are reviving the town centre but in my opinion they are messing it up.
“This used to be a thriving place and the streets would be crowded but the council have killed it with business rates.
“People are saying it’s got to be affordable to run a business here and when it isn’t they are voting with their feet and leaving.”
Along the main street near a minute’s walk from Torquay’s famous marina, Gifts and More sits alone with abandoned shops on either side.
By late afternoon, owner Andrea Petrakis had made barely £50 of sales since opening at 10am and says the current situation was the worst she’d seen.
Neil HopeOne elderly shopper said she barely goes into the town anymore[/caption]
Neil HopeTraders worry about declining rates of tourists[/caption]
She said: “It’s terrible. It’s school holidays this week, the town should be really busy but it isn’t.
“It’s not just them, business rates are ridiculous. They need to be lowered and the down and outs need to be moved out of the town.
“This shop is my husband and my main income but our rent is £1,600, bills are going up and we have five years left on our contract – I don’t think we’ll still be here then.
It’s led to a lot of people avoiding the town and they will go to out of town shopping centres instead.”
An elderly shopper added: “I barely ever come into town now, we used to come in three or four times per week but it just doesn’t feel safe. You get constantly hassled by people coming up to you wanting money, they descend on you like seagulls.”
Nigel Curtis of Seconds Out watches and repairs said: “The footfall is down which is partly down to the ridiculously high car parking charges.
“At this rate all we will end up with is vape shops and turkish barbers.”
And pubs in the town are also suffering. The 500-year-old Hole in the Wall which started serving drinks in Devon in 1540 announced it will be shutting its doors on April 13.
The pub’s landlord, Richard Rossendale-Cook, blamed rising costs for forcing his hand.
He said: “I’m very very sad, of course I’d like to carry on.”
“But unless somebody comes up – a Russian oligarch or someone will give me £360,000 to go and pay off the bill, you are going to shut and that’s the end of it.”
This comes as Torquay Council plans to begin work on a major redevelopment of the Union Square complex off Union Street.
The existing shopping centre will be replaced with around 100 new homes, healthcare facilities and shops.
If the planning application is approved, construction will begin next , which the council say will “revitalise” the area.
The council told Devon Live: “The shopping centre layout is old and doesn’t fit today’s retail needs. Redeveloping the site helps us build a lively mixed-use area.
“This will include shops, leisure areas, and homes that better serve the community.”
Devon county council have been approached for comment.
Neil HopeLee Dixon who runs a Dixon’s Real Deal says he feels ’embarrassed’ by the town[/caption]
Neil HopeAngela Petrakis, owner of Gifts & More said sales were ‘terrible’[/caption]
Neil HopeFootfall has decreased over the last few years leading to store closures[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
