19 November 2008
For Immediate Release
Residents’ views sought on plans for Rock Walk
Mediterranean-themed planting, a viewing platform and creative lighting are just a few of the exciting ideas being put forward for Royal Terrace Gardens (Rock Walk) during a public consultation event next week (Monday 24 – Saturday 29 November).
The essential stabilisation works on the rock face are now underway and the council has turned its attention to the landscape restoration works that will follow.
Ginkgo Projects Ltd, working with Luck Associates, has led a team to produce an outline design for the area on behalf of Torbay Council. Now the plans will be going on show as part of the week-long consultation event and local residents, businesses and visitors are being encouraged to have their say.
Cabinet Member Councillor Chris Lewis, said: "The ideas being put forward for Royal Terrace Gardens are very exciting and are aimed at restoring it to a high standard, whilst capturing the essence of its history, in a contemporary way.
"The outline design is not set in stone and we now want to hear the views of local people and visitors on what features they like and any new ideas they may have before the design is finalised."
Some of the main features of the plan include:
* a pedestrian route up the cliff face will lead people to a viewing platform and onwards to Rock Walk
* a Mediterranean planting scheme with low level planting will open up the area, encourage people to enjoy the views across the Bay and also deter anti-social behaviour
* sensory plants, with distinctive scents and texture, will be used near seating areas
* wheelchair access will be provided along the lower gardens, however, due to the steep nature of the cliff it is not possible to provide access up the cliff. All of the steps will meet DDA requirements where possible.
* benches will be located at various points up the cliff face to encourage people to stop, enjoy the view and appreciate the Bay's Geopark connections with use of interpretation boards.
The plans and a virtual fly-through will be available for viewing at the Breezes Cafe Bar, Princess Theatre on Monday 24 and Tuesday 25 November from 10.30am until 3pm. The plans will then be available to view at Torquay Library from Wednesday 26 until Saturday 29 November inclusive and on the council's website at www.torbay.gov.uk/rockwalk from Monday 24 November until Friday 12 December.
The current stabilisation works are due to be completed in early June 2009 and it is hoped to start the restoration works shortly after this.
Showing posts with label Press release. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Press release. Show all posts
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
Saturday, 16 February 2008
Press Release 14 Feb 2008
Press Release Torbay Council
Rock Walk update
The improvement works to Rock Walk have now entered the last phase with more than three quarters of the rock face already cleared in the last three weeks.
The team have removed a further two large trees today and will be moving the crane along the rock face again this afternoon.
Weather permitting the crane will be removed and access along the seafront will be restored during the week commencing 25 February.
Arrangements are being made to open up the seaward side of the road for two-way traffic as soon as the crane is removed. However, the land side of the road will remain closed whilst the last of the scrub is cleared and a rock stability study has been carried out.
Cabinet Member Councillor Chris Lewis said: "We are now on the homeward stretch and I cannot praise the rock walk team enough for their hard work and commitment over the last few weeks.
"The tree climbers have been scaling dizzy heights above the harbour for many hours a day, six days a week and the ground team's methodical approach and hard work has pushed the project along at an incredible rate.
"We have pulled together the best tree climbers and ground work team in the South-west and they are all extremely tired. In order to keep up the momentum next week and ensure the safety of the workers, the team will be taking Saturday off to recharge the batteries but will be back bright and early on Monday morning.
"I am delighted that we will be able to open up the seafront road during the week commencing 25 February. We are currently making arrangements to suspend parking on the seaward side to allow two-way traffic whilst the land side remains closed until the rest of the scrub has been cleared and a site survey has been completed. This is unavoidable as there is still a danger of rock falls whilst work is carried out.
"I would once again like to thank local businesses and residents for their patience during this work."
Not a word of thanks for all the hard work us bus drivers have put in over the last 3 weeks.
Rock Walk update
The improvement works to Rock Walk have now entered the last phase with more than three quarters of the rock face already cleared in the last three weeks.
The team have removed a further two large trees today and will be moving the crane along the rock face again this afternoon.
Weather permitting the crane will be removed and access along the seafront will be restored during the week commencing 25 February.
Arrangements are being made to open up the seaward side of the road for two-way traffic as soon as the crane is removed. However, the land side of the road will remain closed whilst the last of the scrub is cleared and a rock stability study has been carried out.
Cabinet Member Councillor Chris Lewis said: "We are now on the homeward stretch and I cannot praise the rock walk team enough for their hard work and commitment over the last few weeks.
"The tree climbers have been scaling dizzy heights above the harbour for many hours a day, six days a week and the ground team's methodical approach and hard work has pushed the project along at an incredible rate.
"We have pulled together the best tree climbers and ground work team in the South-west and they are all extremely tired. In order to keep up the momentum next week and ensure the safety of the workers, the team will be taking Saturday off to recharge the batteries but will be back bright and early on Monday morning.
"I am delighted that we will be able to open up the seafront road during the week commencing 25 February. We are currently making arrangements to suspend parking on the seaward side to allow two-way traffic whilst the land side remains closed until the rest of the scrub has been cleared and a site survey has been completed. This is unavoidable as there is still a danger of rock falls whilst work is carried out.
"I would once again like to thank local businesses and residents for their patience during this work."
Not a word of thanks for all the hard work us bus drivers have put in over the last 3 weeks.
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
Torbay Council Press Release 12 Feb 2008
Rock Walk updateHundreds of people have been flocking to Torquay's harbourside over the last few days to see the Rock Walk team in action with a reported 150 plus already gathering today. The project is really picking up pace as work continues on removing 13 large tree stumps, weighing in excess of two tonnes each, before the crane is moved along the rock face again tomorrow.The good news comes despite foggy weather conditions on Saturday morning when workers, starting on site at 7.30am, had to continue scrub clearance until the fog cleared late morning and the crane could be safely operated.
Cabinet Member Councillor Chris Lewis said: "It really has been full steam ahead for the team currently working on the harbourside. We have been lucky to have a run of relatively good weather over the last few weeks. However, there is always plenty to do even if the weather turns, as it did on Saturday morning, and the crane is unable to operate.
"As well as the large trees, tonnes of scrub also has to be carefully cleared from site to avoid injury from potential rock falls, broken glass or needles found in the area which has really demonstrated why the improvement work was so necessary.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank local businesses and residents for their continued patience during the work and congratulate those on site for a fantastic job well done."
Cabinet Member Councillor Chris Lewis said: "It really has been full steam ahead for the team currently working on the harbourside. We have been lucky to have a run of relatively good weather over the last few weeks. However, there is always plenty to do even if the weather turns, as it did on Saturday morning, and the crane is unable to operate.
"As well as the large trees, tonnes of scrub also has to be carefully cleared from site to avoid injury from potential rock falls, broken glass or needles found in the area which has really demonstrated why the improvement work was so necessary.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank local businesses and residents for their continued patience during the work and congratulate those on site for a fantastic job well done."
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
Press Pelease, Torbay Council 4 Feb 2008
Rock Walk update - 4 February
As the 'Rock Walk team' gear up for a second week of work high above the harbour, the project is being hailed as a huge success.
So far six large trees and an extensive area of scrub has been removed weighing in excess of 56 tonnes and work is due to move further along the rock face tomorrow.
Cabinet Member Councillor Chris Lewis said: "It has really been full steam ahead for the team working on Rock Walk and the results are really starting to show.
"An extensive part of the rock face has now been cleared and the community and visitors can start to get a better picture of how it may look in the future once the improvements works have been completed.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank local businesses and residents for their patience and feedback. Although there appears to have been very few problems with the diversions we have now arranged for additional signs, advertising the diversions, to be placed at the Belgrave Road junction and on Newton Road at the request of some businesses.
"I would also like to remind those travelling into and around Torbay that we are still open for business and access remains open to all of the town centre car parks."
As the 'Rock Walk team' gear up for a second week of work high above the harbour, the project is being hailed as a huge success.
So far six large trees and an extensive area of scrub has been removed weighing in excess of 56 tonnes and work is due to move further along the rock face tomorrow.
Cabinet Member Councillor Chris Lewis said: "It has really been full steam ahead for the team working on Rock Walk and the results are really starting to show.
"An extensive part of the rock face has now been cleared and the community and visitors can start to get a better picture of how it may look in the future once the improvements works have been completed.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank local businesses and residents for their patience and feedback. Although there appears to have been very few problems with the diversions we have now arranged for additional signs, advertising the diversions, to be placed at the Belgrave Road junction and on Newton Road at the request of some businesses.
"I would also like to remind those travelling into and around Torbay that we are still open for business and access remains open to all of the town centre car parks."
Thursday, 31 January 2008
Press Release, Torbay Council 31 Jan 2008
Work progresses well at Rock Walk - 31 January
Improvement works at Rock Walk are progressing well and will continue throughout the day despite the recent turn in the weather.
It has been full steam ahead for those involved in the project over the last few days and five of the larger trees from the top of Rock Walk have already been removed weighing in excess of 28 tonnes.
But today's rain and 50mph winds on Torquay's harbourside have not dampened spirits and work will continue removing scrub and some of the smaller trees at lower levels until the winds subside.
Cabinet Member Councillor Chris Lewis said: "Those visiting the harbourside in the last few days will have seen for themselves the complexity and potential dangers of the work being carried out. Climbers have been working in the trees more than 65 metres above the road and the crane itself reaches around 70 metres.
"Needless to say this cannot continue during high winds and work has continued this morning on the lower levels of the rock face instead with half of the scrub cleared already.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank those working tireleseely on site to ensure that it is completed as quickly as possible and to local businesses and residents for their patience whilst we carry out this essential work. I am sure that the benefits gained by improving the look and safety of the area will far outweigh the short-term inconvenience."
Improvement works at Rock Walk are progressing well and will continue throughout the day despite the recent turn in the weather.
It has been full steam ahead for those involved in the project over the last few days and five of the larger trees from the top of Rock Walk have already been removed weighing in excess of 28 tonnes.
But today's rain and 50mph winds on Torquay's harbourside have not dampened spirits and work will continue removing scrub and some of the smaller trees at lower levels until the winds subside.
Cabinet Member Councillor Chris Lewis said: "Those visiting the harbourside in the last few days will have seen for themselves the complexity and potential dangers of the work being carried out. Climbers have been working in the trees more than 65 metres above the road and the crane itself reaches around 70 metres.
"Needless to say this cannot continue during high winds and work has continued this morning on the lower levels of the rock face instead with half of the scrub cleared already.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank those working tireleseely on site to ensure that it is completed as quickly as possible and to local businesses and residents for their patience whilst we carry out this essential work. I am sure that the benefits gained by improving the look and safety of the area will far outweigh the short-term inconvenience."
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