Dear Members,
I wanted to thank everyone who attended our first meeting of 2022, for helping to make it such a
successful evening. Ian Howes’ talk ‘Lighting the Rock’ on the 14th January was both memorable and fascinating. In addition, the way that everyone present respected the recommended social limitations meant that all seemed stress free and therefore an enjoyable event was held. The audience numbered 42, plus committee members.
Galmpton Open Garden Event – Sunday 10th April
Firstly, for those not present at the talk on 14th January, it was announced that the History Group will
be laying on a limited local history exhibition within the Galmpton Village Institute on Sunday 10th April. As part of the
day, the Open Garden Event Committee are organising a Village Scarecrow Trail and your History
Group have been asked to create our own scarecrow to be exhibited outside the Institute. We are
therefore looking for hidden artistic talent, perhaps a small team, to create something appealing on
our behalf. Please let me know if you feel inspired! It would be good to show our support and after
all, scarecrows have historic connotations.
Consultation on Torbay Local Plan Update Housing Option
There is a call to residents to again submit their views on housing development plans in Torbay (ref.
title above). I appreciate, like myself, you might feel writing to the Authority seems a waste of time,
but I am going to make the effort one more time. I appreciate that homes are needed, preferably
one home per family. The administrative area of Torbay, including the Parish of Churston Ferrers,
consists of a small, finite land holding, once developed no longer available for agriculture, leisure or
simply breathing space. A community of all ages requires a balanced environment in which to exist,
flourish and provide a meaningful quality of life. During my life as a resident of Torbay I have seen
the consistent, never-ending spread of housing, a rising tide of developmental expansion. I
appreciate we cannot go back and yet more and more people will want to come to live here, the
writing is on the wall. My personal request is that Local Plans, planned sensitively, MUST be adhered
to, that land set aside as open space, agricultural, leisure, etc remains sacrosanct in law, for, I
suggest, a minimum period of at least 100 years.
The future is very much a part of history in the making. Once buried under development, heritage is
so easily forgotten and often oblivious for the generations to come.
John Risdon
Chairman