St Mary's Park Higher Brixham

Football in St. Mary's Park on Sunday morning. This is a pleasant part of Brixham, not visited by the tourists too often. Higher Brixham is often referred as 'Cowtown' as opposed to 'Fishtown' which as I am sure you have guessed is by the harbour.

Brighter days Ahead

As it is rather wet and miserable here today. I thought a couple of pics from the Summer might add a little cheer.
On the way to Kingswear, an attractive place to visit is Colleton Fishacre
This is a National Trust property and Garden with a rare and exotic plant collection set in a secluded coastal valley, the house is Art Deco a past home of the Doyle Carte family of Gilbert and Sullivan fame, a frequent visitor to the house I was told was Noel Coward. The main reason to go to Colleton is the gardens they are stunning with numerous walks for the energetic or not so energetic. Also the food is good!!!

The second is of the freshwater pool at Shoalstone, this has been recently restored by the local council one of there better ideas. The only problem with it is the locals do have a tendency to throw broken bottles into the pool.

Paignton Christmas Lights!!!

I had the misfortune to go to Paignton the other day. I was amazed at the lights in the High Street.
They had really splashed out this year with what appeared to be two snow flakes strung across the road. I Will have to go back to make sure my first impression was correct as I could not believe that this was all their was.

Tesco's Non-Information Day in Brixham

The quote below is from the Herald Express

"But the big sticking point for locals is the amount of parking, who controls it, how much it will cost and whether there are any concessions for town centre residents.

Mr Bramwell refused to comment on rumours that the chain will retain control over the planned 370 parking spaces despite the whole scheme being floated by Torbay Council four years ago as a vehicle to acquire a new council car park at the developer's expense.

"Nothing's been decided," he said.

Entry and exit to the spaces is likely to be confined to Middle Street and regeneration company Brixham 21 and landowners Torbay Council have asked Tesco to consider an overnight parking system.
All the suggested accommodation is small one and two bedroom flats. Of the 46 homes proposed, 18 will be affordable and there may be some tie-up with a housing association or renting agency."

having spoken to a number of people who went along to the presentation, their conclusions were generally the same as mine 'Nothing has been decided" or "it is too early yet" was the stock response to just about every question about the development.
I wonder if and when the development happens, what it will look like at the end of the day?

Two photographs from Sharkam Point in Brixham

I took these on the same day, the second one just before a real downpour arrived.
It is always surprising when the weather changes so quickly

A Waste of Time - Waste Disposal

The local rag reports fines of £42 million await Torbay Council if it does not recycle more waste.
In our house we all try and put as much waste in the green bin as possible sorting and washing plastic bottles etc.. One thing I have always been puzzled about is the green rubbish policy in Brixham. All green rubbish has to be taken to the site out at Yalberton around 5+ miles from Brixham.
When you arrive you join a queue of other polluting cars while you wait your turn to unload your grass clippings. Aren't we causing more pollution than we are saving? up the road in South Hams they have brown bins in which people can put their green waste.
Am I missing something here?

Blackout in Dartmouth

Far be it for me to gloat about others misfortunes, but according to the Herald, Dartmouoth will have to wait a long time for their lights to be updated
"The group is already running Monday and Wednesday coffee mornings to raise funds and she explained it was planned to carry on fund raising to ensure there is the money available for next year's Christmas lights.

She said it was hoped to actually increase the lights for 20098 with an illuminated Christmas tree and other lights at Townstal.

"This time next year we will have it all organised," she said."

Remembrance Day

The Remembrance Day in Brixham started with a 10:40am parade from Kings Quay, Brixham. This was followed by a service at 11am service at Berry Head War Memorial.

Pirate Day in Brixham
If you have been in Brixham recently you may have seen some rather sad looking characters walking around dressed as 'Pirates'. If you have it is because it is 'Pirate Day'. What this is I have no idea, I am unaware that Brixham had a pirate history. Could someone enlighten me?. Maybe one of the 'Pirates'. In my endeavours to find out about 'Pirate Day' I came across this fun website for children and the childlike. It is simply called 'Blackbeard'

Fishcombe & Battery Gardens

A pleasant place for a walk is through Battery Gardens, why "Battery Gardens"?
Here you can find out about the guns that defended Brixham in the last war. There is a small museum which when it is open is well worth a visit. From the Gardens you can walk down to Fishcombe Cove. and if you are really fit along the path to Churston

Surprised in Brixham

I happened to be walking by the Rugby Club in Brixham when I heard a band playing. The music was quite stirring as the band consisted of drums and accordions.
As you can see from the photos it was a group of Orange men marching to the Quayside.
I do not know much about the Orange order as I have only heard about them in Northern Ireland.
They were marching to lay wreaths at the statue of William of Orange who landed at Brixham on the 5th November. Click on his statue for more information.

Interesting site if you are planning to visit Brixham
A site set up by some folks who visited Brixham and stayed at Pontins Wall Park Camp.
If you are a walker check out the other section of their web pages.

Another Parking Story
Parking seems to exercise the minds of many Brixham people. If you live here I am sure you know what I mean.
I was sent this picture by someone who photographed one of Torbays finest.
My correspondent tells me he lurked in a half empty car park for around 10 minutes by a car waiting until it ran out of time and as the town clock struck three he stuck his ticket on the windscreen, which according to my informant he had already appeared to have made out. If the offender was a visitor, I am sure this is the last time we will see them. It would be interesting if it was possible to do a cost analysis of how much we loose from unhappy people caught by these means. We do need parking attendants I am sure, but not these kind.
As reported before he took pictures of the car and also the inside of the offending vehicle.

More on Tesco in Brixham
This is still causing quite a stir in the town with people for and against the developement. I went along to the exhibition if that is what one could call it just a few drawings and what appeared to be an artists impression of the new Tesco developement.
I was told that parking would be free, but it does not seem to be clear how this will work.
Will it be short term parking?
Can you only park if you are using Tesco's?
350 parking spaces will not go very far in summer when it is busy.
I remain to be convinced that I will change my habits and shop in Brixham.

Destination Torquay Not Brixham, but amusing

This is an amusing video, we need one of Brixham next.

Sad Sites














Empty shops and businesses in Brixham. In St Mary's Square there used to be a Baker and a Co-op store. Now both shops are closed with it seems little chance of anything happening to them in the near future.
Down in Bolton Street, (the picture on the right) according to one estimate in the Herald Express there are fourteen shops and businesses vacant.

Brixham Inner Harbour
This photograph was taken early in the morning.
The water was this blue

Golden Hind
One of the attractions in Brixham in the inner harbour is a replica of the Golden Hind

Interesting story about car parking in Brixham
As reported today a local trader was caught by their friendly traffic warden, she was parked outside her own premises and was three minutes over the allotted hour.
The warden made the ticket up before he arrived at the car, so she had no time to move. He then proceeded to take photographs of not only the number plates front and rear, but photos of the interior. When he was questioned about this he said he had permission and the right to do this.
Parking in Brixham is a problem, but these attitudes do not help in improving the quality of life in the town.

"Torbay District Council has lost £250,000 a year after it took over parking enforcement from the police.The area's mayor, Nick Bye, said the move has been a "financial disaster" and may lead to a rise in council tax."
It's not even making any money, so who is happy!!

Over the next few months and years Brixham is going to see some major changes as the authorities attempt to rejuvenate the Town. I have seen Brixham go slowly down hill in the last 30 years I have known Brixham. In Bolton Street there are at least four if not more empty shop premises. St Mary's Square has lost its bakery and the Cooperative store is now closed, with it seems little prospect of new business coming to the Square.
The latest hope on the horizon for the town itself is an new Tesco store to replace the condemned multi storey car park.
The concern is will Tesco make Brixham a one store town? Will it as one Town Councillor has said become 'Tesco on Sea'.
We await with interest developments on this.

THE DA VINCI CODE
It struck me looking at this painting by Raphael how I could formulate another code thriller this banker Bindo Altoviti is clearly not a MAN, but a WOMAN.

Anti-theist rather than Atheist

I came upon a Blog using 'Stumble' the other day called 'The Atheists Wager'. The author states that he is an Atheist. My understanding is that an 'Atheist' is someone who does not believe that a 'god' exists. He talks of using logical debate, yet in his profile he says ' I just don't like God and don't care who knows' If logic is to be applied to this it appears that our friend is not an 'atheist', but a god hater or at least a god disliker(new word?). He then using the old chestnut from Pascal descends into a tirade against religions pointing out how bad they are using more chestnuts ie. Crusades etc.. Surely if there is no god, 'good' and 'bad' are human constructs. One man's bad is another man's good. It may be expedient for a particular society to outlaw, for instance murder, but we cannot say that murder is 'good or 'bad' all we can say is that it is inconvenient for society and may disrupt peoples lives. For the murderer, murder may be a 'good' thing. for instance removing an obstacle to their well-being. If we move this onto the international stage we can look at the activities of Stalin, he removed the Kulaks as they were in the way of progress, that is his view of progress. Since the fall of Communism in the Soviet Republics these acts are now called crimes, but if there is no god it is the victor in any conflict who decides what is 'good' or 'bad' As free humans we can decide for ourselves what is good or bad, the weak and the cowardly following society the strong and independent make there own rules. As Dostoevsky said. If there is no God there is no crime. On the other hand!!