The Locals Network Torbay

20/04/2026

Teignmouth Library is closed today after a fire broke out on its roof over the weekend.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene on Sunday afternoon after multiple 999 calls reported flames coming from the building. Around five fire engines attended, along with specialist equipment, as crews worked to bring the situation under control.

The fire is believed to have started from a battery linked to solar panels on the roof.

Thankfully, firefighters managed to stop it spreading inside, meaning the damage is mostly limited to the roof area.

The library is now closed while teams assess the damage and organise repairs to make the building safe again. No reopening date has been confirmed yet.

Part of the A379 was also affected, with disruption while crews dealt with the incident.

Staff have thanked both the public for quickly raising the alarm and the fire service for preventing what could have been a much worse situation.

06/04/2026

Beachgoers got an unexpected sight on Easter Sunday as sea baptisms took place along the Torbay coastline.

Christians from multiple churches gathered at Paignton beach and Torre Abbey Sands, where people stepped into the sea to publicly mark their faith. Around 20 people were baptised in Paignton, with another 25 at Torre Abbey Sands.

Participants described the experience as emotional and meaningful, with some saying it marked a fresh start after a personal journey leading up to the day.

The baptisms were organised by church leaders from different denominations and took place after the 40 days of Lent, which traditionally leads into Easter celebrations.

For many watching, it was a striking scene, crowds lining the beach while people waded into the water for a moment usually seen far from the seafront.

06/04/2026

Before Torbay was known for beach days and bucket-and-spade holidays, it played a quiet but critical role in preparing for the biggest military operation in history.

In the lead-up to D-Day, the South Devon coastline, including Torbay and nearby beaches was transformed into a vast training ground for Allied forces preparing for the invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe.

In 1943–44, thousands of American and British troops flooded into South Devon. Roads filled with military convoys, beaches were closed to the public, and local people lived alongside soldiers training for what would later be known as Operation Overlord.

South Devon’s coastline closely resembled the beaches of Normandy, making it ideal for full-scale rehearsals involving landing craft, tanks and live ammunition.

Just down the coast at Slapton Sands, one of the darkest chapters of the training took place. During a rehearsal exercise, German E-boats attacked Allied landing craft, killing hundreds of American soldiers.

The incident was kept secret at the time to protect morale and the invasion plans.
Many locals never knew the full story until decades later.

During this period, Torbay was under strict military control. Blackouts were enforced. Beaches were restricted. Entire areas changed overnight.

For locals, it was surreal, one moment a peaceful seaside town, the next, a launchpad for history.

When D-Day finally came on 6 June 1944, the soldiers who stormed the beaches of Normandy had already trained on Devon sand.

D-Day didn’t just happen in France, It was planned, tested and rehearsed in places like Torbay.

This isn’t distant history, it’s local ground zero for one of the most important moments of the 20th century.

And chances are, you’ve stood on the same coastline without ever realising what it once prepared the world for.

06/04/2026

A large fire tore through a derelict hotel on Belgrave Road in Torquay, bringing a major emergency response and road closures across the area.

Fire crews were called to the Sherwood Hotel on Sunday afternoon after reports of flames inside the building. The fire quickly spread across multiple floors, prompting a huge response with 14 fire crews from across Devon and Somerset attending the scene.

Police closed Belgrave Road in both directions, while residents were urged to keep windows and doors shut due to heavy smoke. Drivers were also told to avoid the area as crews worked to bring the blaze under control.

Firefighters used aerial equipment and a drone to assess the building, with crews remaining on site into the evening to monitor hotspots. By later that night, the incident had been scaled back, but emergency services returned overnight to continue checks.

The latest blaze comes less than 48 hours after another fire at the same derelict hotel, raising further concerns about the abandoned building.

Road closures remained in place the following morning while emergency services continued to deal with the aftermath and assess the scene.

06/04/2026

20/01/2026

Torquay, Paignton and Brixham (better known as the English Riviera) are set for a huge comeback, with around £300 million worth of regeneration projects lined up across the Bay.

Once iconic Victorian holiday towns, the area has struggled in recent years. Now, major investment is aiming to turn things around.

🔹 Torquay
- The crumbling Pavilion could be restored in an £11m project
- Union Square and the old Debenhams site are set to be redeveloped into homes, healthcare and new shops
- Big changes planned for the town centre and harbour area

🔹 Paignton
- A £14m seafront upgrade to protect against flooding and rising sea levels
- The historic Paignton Picture House is being restored and could reopen later this year
- Oldway Mansion is undergoing a £54m restoration
- Around 200 new homes planned near the town centre
🔹 Brixham
- Major expansion of the fish market and harbour
- Work underway to save Shoalstone Seawater Pool, one of the UK’s last tidal pools

New homes, better public spaces, protected coastlines and a serious boost to the local economy.

The English Riviera isn’t just getting a facelift, it’s getting a full-scale revival.

20/01/2026

One of Paignton’s most recognisable hotels has closed its doors for up to 12 months as a major refurbishment finally gets underway.

The Redcliffe Hotel, which overlooks Paignton Sands, is now shut to guests while extensive restoration work is carried out on the historic building. All events taking place this week will still go ahead, while other bookings are being refunded.

The closure puts 19 jobs at risk, although management says it hopes to bring many staff members back once the project is complete.

Hotel bosses initially attempted a partial closure late last year, but say the disruption proved too difficult, leading to the decision to fully close and push ahead with the work.

The overhaul has been planned for several years and is being described as a major investment in Paignton’s future. The aim is to transform the Grade II listed building into a high-end destination while restoring many of its original features.

Plans include:
- Reducing rooms from 67 to 55 to create more luxurious accommodation
- A new restaurant and bar
- Upgraded spa, fitness and dining facilities
- Full exterior and interior restoration, including new windows and reinstated architectural details on the towers

Originally built in 1864 as a private home, the Redcliffe later became a hotel in the early 1900s and has long been a fixture of Paignton’s seafront.

Owners say the finished hotel will combine historic character with modern luxury, but warn that with a building of this age, the timeline could shift once work is fully underway.

For now, the Redcliffe is quiet, but the plan is for it to return as one of the town’s flagship hotels when it reopens next year.

14/01/2026

Torbay Hospital is asking people not to attend A&E unless it’s a life-threatening emergency, as the department is currently under heavy pressure.

Health bosses say the emergency department is extremely busy, with many patients arriving who could be treated elsewhere. This is making it harder for doctors and nurses to focus on people who urgently need life-saving care.

A&E should only be used for serious conditions such as chest pain, breathing problems, heavy bleeding, loss of consciousness or other critical emergencies.

Anyone arriving with a minor injury or illness may be redirected to:
- Newton Abbot Urgent Treatment Centre
- Totnes Minor Injuries Unit

These services can handle things like suspected fractures, cuts needing stitches, animal bites, slips on ice and injuries requiring X-rays.

Hospital staff say using the right service helps protect emergency care for those who need it most and they’re thanking the public for their patience and understanding.

Bottom line:
If it’s not life-threatening, there’s a better place to go and it helps everyone when you do.

14/01/2026

Police are increasing action to keep nights out safer in Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, with a focus on tackling male predatory behaviour.

As part of Operation Funnel, officers have been running high-visibility patrols and undercover operations in nightlife areas during evenings and late at night. In recent months, police say they’ve issued 10 community protection warnings and secured two sexual risk orders.

They’re now asking people to share their experiences, good or bad, to help shape future policing and highlight places where people have felt unsafe.

Community protection warnings are issued to individuals or businesses linked to repeated anti-social behaviour. Sexual risk orders are civil court orders that place restrictions on people who pose a sexual risk, even if they haven’t been convicted of an offence.

Police say public feedback is crucial in helping them decide where to focus patrols and how to better protect people on nights out.

Bottom line:
If something didn’t feel right on a night out, police want to know and they’re asking locals to speak up.

14/01/2026

Roadworks linked to the revival of Paignton Picture House have kicked off, marking the start of several transport projects across the town running until the end of March.

A brand-new power supply has now been installed for the landmark cinema, one of the oldest purpose-built cinemas in Europe, as part of its long-awaited restoration.

The venue, which first opened in 1914, is due to reopen later this year after being closed since 1999.

The National Grid work meant a section of Torbay Road was temporarily closed, with underground cables also diverted in Hyde Road and Great Western Road, causing lane closures last week.

Council bosses say carrying out multiple jobs at the same time is designed to avoid repeat disruption later and is a key part of Paignton’s wider regeneration plans.

More work is now on the way. Gas pipe repairs have started at the Dartmouth Road / Roundham Road roundabout, and from 26 January, drivers can expect temporary traffic lights between Kings Road and Higher Polsham Road for up to nine weeks while excavation work takes place.

The council has acknowledged the inconvenience but says the projects have been carefully scheduled to run back-to-back, not overlap, keeping disruption to a minimum.

Bottom line:
Expect delays, but they’re tied to long-term improvements, including bringing one of Paignton’s most iconic buildings back to life.