Mega cruise ship vision could transform Devon resort

The eyesore Living Coasts site in Torquay should be transformed into a dedicated hub for welcoming cruise ship passengers from across the globe – breathing new life into the town’s tourism sector. That’s the view of a local businessman who is challenging people to come up with innovative ideas to transform the fortunes of the seaside town.

Scott Evans is trying to generate positive plans to improve the town he loves. He says it’s time to stop the negativity and use the collective brainpower of its talented population to solve problems.

“All I see online are doomsayers,” he says. “I understand it, and I’m as guilty at moaning about the state of Torbay as anyone else, but it doesn’t actually help.

“There are a lot of talented and clever people here, the young and older. Instead of relying solely on the council to find answers, why not create an online platform where people can share ideas and creative plans? If we can improve the town, we all benefit. Moaning won’t fix anything, but ideas just might.”

He says one possible vision of Torquay’s future would involve a dedicated cruise ship hub at the abandoned former tourist attraction at Beacon Quay.

He says: “We don’t need a massive deepwater port to accommodate cruise ships. Instead, we could transform the former Living Coasts site into a dedicated arrivals and departures hub, operating a fleet of tender boats to transfer passengers between the cruise ships and our shore.

“And, if we couldn’t afford to purchase our own fleet of boats, then we could put out a tender for a third-party operator to run the service. Perhaps it might even be possible to find investors in the construction of such a hub, especially if it would benefit the amount of new large hotels that have been appearing over the last few years.”

Scott, a digital animator, says the town desperately needs to revitalize its tourism sector.

“I think cruise liners could be convinced to operate here, if we made it possible for them,” he says. “Heck, with dedicated ship operators using Torbay, perhaps we could get more of our town folk working on the cruise ships themselves. On top of all of that, if tourism increased in the Bay, then new businesses would open, and more jobs would follow. Turning the former Living Coast site into a cruise hub wouldn’t just boost Torbay’s economy, it would help revitalize the town, giving people a reason to invest in it again.”

He first posted his ideas on a community Facebook page where they generated nearly 100 responses. He has previously proposed transforming the town centre it into a busy education hotspot where students, shoppers and businesses all inject energy back into the high street.

He adds: “The benefit of cruise operators using the Bay would be a big one. Cost. Mooring at sea is significantly cheaper than docking at large, congested ports. By mooring up in our Bay and using our transport boats to collect their passengers, they would not only save money, but, I bet those ports are busy. I’m sure Torbay would offer a much more picturesque start of their holiday than the drab ports of Plymouth or Southampton.

“Having worked with people from all over the world, I can say with certainty that many—especially those from North America, China, and Europe—have a deep admiration for the UK. Our history and culture are envied all around the world, and Torbay embodies the picturesque British seaside that many imagine, with its vibrant gardens, historic buildings, and Victorian architecture.”

Living Coasts closed for good in 2020. It’s owner, The Wild Planet Trust, has been talking to prospective buyers. It currently costs about £50,000 a year to maintain and both the council and the trust are committed to securing its future.

Scott knows there will be many logistical hurdles, not least providing better transport links and he acknowledges cruise tourism alone won’t completely transform Torbay. But he says it’s time to stop “focusing on decline”.

“We should embrace the opportunities available to us with some creative thinking. This proposal is just one idea. It would certainly be incredibly challenging, perhaps too challenging, though I don’t believe it’s impossible.

“The point I try to make is that whether or not the idea is likely to happen isn’t really my main point at all. What’s more important is that, as a community, we should be putting our heads together to think up creative ways to generate interest in the bay.

“According to too many, Torquay is done for, and there’s nothing that can be done. But I don’t believe that. Times have changed, and we need to change too. Instead of complaining about the council not saving our town, perhaps we should all be more active in identifying the problems and proposing solutions.”