Rock Walk Torquay

2011-10-26T23:32:00.001+01:00

Tattie Vegitation on Rock Walk

2010-12-16T14:02:00.000Z

More Work in January

2010-12-16T13:54:00.002Z

The vegitation on the cliff face is looking a little tattie. I have been imformed that work will start in the New Year to improve the look of the place.

I do hope that more floodlights and in the right places coloured lights are going to be fitted to brighten the place up at night. It would be nice, Councillor Lewis, if it could be seen from Brixham without the aid of night goggles.

Rock Walk By Night

2010-10-06T00:55:00.001+01:00

From the top at night the best view is towards the Grand Hotel and Tor Abbey Gardens. Even at 9pm there were people wandering about looking at the Bay by night. But His Holiness the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Chris Lewis's claim that Rock walk would be visable at night from Brixham seems to me a little farfetched (see second photo).

A few coloured floodlights are needed to bring the cliff face back to it's former glory and to interest the droves of tourists Chris is expecting to travel miles to see Torquay's latest attraction.

The photos of the Harbour Bridge and the pub I threw in just to make up for the disappointment of Rock Walk at street level.

Rock Walk revisited

2010-10-05T00:07:00.002+01:00

Saturday afternoon I went round to Rock Walk for the entertainment before the opening of the walkway up the cliff face. Had a brief wander round before having a few words with Professor Iain Stewart of Plymouth University. He was here to officially open The Royal Terrace Gardens, together with Nick Bye. Still I wont hold that against Iain who told me there was an other TV program on it's way which featured the North West Coast of Scotland, my favourite place on earth. I was going to get back later for the opening at 6:45 but at 6:30 the heavens opened instead so I stayed in. During the night there was a lot of wind and rain and I hoped the builders had done their job well and everything hadn't been washed away.

When I got up next morning there was a tree branch and the wild ground at the bottom of the garden. It had fallen down the 100 foot cliff face in the night.

To day, Monday, I had a walk up the steps, 150 up to the observation platform, no sign of a cafe selling cups of tea and ice cream but a fair number of people at the top taking advantage of the glorious sunshine and enjoying the views over the Bay. A couple of photos the 40 more steps up to the top. There is a pathway here that runs from Shedden Hill Road right across to the Harbour. This is the correctly called Rock Walk but the whole project is now know by the same name.

Here are a few photos.

Me up on Rock Walk. In the back ground is the Harbour which from here is overlooked by the Three Ugly Sisters.

The Viewing platform, sans cafe but with a few viewers.

The local long arm of the law making sure we weren't gettin high.

This struture is down at street level, this is what I imaging Ankh-Morpork would look like if it had been built on rock instead of loam.

Today's the Day

2010-10-02T09:58:00.001+01:00

Royal Terrace Gardens Opening Festival
2 October 2010
A day of music and entertainment to celebrate the opening of Royal Terrace Gardens. (All events are free unless indicated).
Time Event Details
12 pm - 6.45 pm Creative Torbay Stage (Princess Gardens) A wide range of live music acts from across South Devon. The line up includes; Three Bags Full, Emily Howard and Friends, Hurache, Unsung Heroes, The Humanitarians and The Quails.
12 pm - 6 pm Geopark Marquee (Princess Gardens) Interactive exhibits and geological activities plus workshops, creative play, storytelling and other family fun. Exhibitors include Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust, Plymouth University, Torquay Museum, Kents Cavern and creative activities with local Geopark artist Anna Kehler.
1 pm / 2.15 pm /3.30 pm Geo Cruises (departing from princess Pier) See the stunning coastline and discover the geology of the Bay aboard the Coral Star.
Tickets: £7.00/£4.00
2.30 pm - 4 pm Book Launch: The Official English Riviera Geopark Guidebook Come and meet BBC TV presenter (How the Earth Made Us and Earth: The Power of the Planet), geologist and Patron of the English Riviera Geopark, Professor Iain Stewart, who will be signing copies of the new English Riviera Geopark Guide Book. Copies of the book will be available to buy inside the Geopark Marquee
6.45 pm Official Opening Ceremony Torbay Brass Band will open the celebrations, followed by a special performance from the Community Choir led by Dartington Composer by Association, Hugh Nankivell.
BBC presenter and Patron of the English Riviera Geopark, Professor Iain Stewart will join the Mayor of Torbay to officially open Royal Terrace Gardens before the Grand finale, the light and sound show, Time and Tide.
7.20 pm Light and Sound Show Extravaganza: Time and Tide – The Final Act (Royal Terrace Gardens) What better way to mark the official opening of Royal Terrace Gardens than this; a SPECTACULAR animated light and sound show, using the rock face as its canvas. Music and sound complement an especially composed digital projection, as we see the rock face come alive. Centred round a live dancer, a tiny figure, climbing the new walkway, small wax rubbings and ink blots created with participants from around Torbay, are transformed from tiny moments into earthshaking events. The rock walk bends, stretches and rumbles as the awe-inspiring scale of geological time is mapped out before our eyes. A truly unique event, not to be missed.
8.00 pm Seth Lakeman plus Support (Princess Theatre) Local lad made good, Seth Lakeman, widely regarded as the UK’s foremost folk singer/ songwriter, makes his eagerly awaited return with new album Hearts and Minds.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a paid event. Tickets: £19.00 (£18 concs) available through www.ticketmaster.co.uk or from the Princess Theatre Box Office: 0844 847 2315.

More Photos

2010-09-30T23:46:00.001+01:00

One shows the lighting in the steps and the other shows the lights at the foot of the rock face. Be better if it was dark, I hope.

More Photos from Top of Rock Walk

2010-09-30T23:44:00.001+01:00

One of these two show Livermead Head and the other swings round to the Grand Hotel and the world famous balloon and includes some of the cliff and the road at the bottom.

More photos from Rock Walk

2010-09-30T23:40:00.001+01:00

These two photos show more of the view from the top of Rock Walk.

One looks along the Princess Pier towards Brixham and the other shows Paignton in the distance.

Open Two Days Before Official Opening

2010-09-30T23:36:00.000+01:00

At last, 2 years and 10 months since it was closed for safety reasons Rock Walk has been opened to Joe Public. I went along this evening (Thursday) as there was an item in the Herald Express saying all the barriers had come down and would say down till Friday evening when they would go back up for the Grand Oficial Opening on Saturday. This picture shows The area above the Harbour.

Almost There, The End Really is in Sight.

2010-09-25T23:58:00.001+01:00

While on my daily wander round Torquay I noticed a poster advertising a forthcoming attraction concerning Rock Walk. Or as it is correctly known, The Royal Terrace Gardens. The Royal in this case being on of Victoria's daughters, Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll. She had an interesting life, click here to find out more. Anyway next Saturday is opening day as you can see from the poster on a nearby bus stop. Not a mention of the time though. Nick Bye will be there but don't let that put you off because Professor Iain Stewart together with a choir and all sorts of other attractions will also be in attendance. We might even get to walk up the steps and admire the view at last.

If you can't make it don't worry, I'll take a few photos and post them here.

This is from the Herald Express which does know what time it all starts.

The one-day festival celebrates the re-opening of the gardens after the three-year project to secure the rock face, restore the popular gardens, and with its flying staircases and viewing platform offering spectacular views and special lighting system, create a new attraction for Torquay

The festivities will start at noon and include street performances and live music by local bands, family workshops, and a spectacular 20-minute after-dark light and sound show. The day is topped by an 8pm concert performance by Seth Lakeman at the Princess Theatre.

For a copy of the poster shown in the photo PDF (560kb) click here.

Exactly When Will It Be Open? Does any one know for sure?

2010-08-31T16:13:00.003+01:00

It isn't the time it is taking to finish the work but the continuing statements made by Torbay council saying it would be ready when it was obvious it wouldn't be. What was the point in all that other than a short term bolster to some politicians flagging position. For instance the deputy mayor said it would be open by the end of July; come the end of July when it wasn't open he said, Well I only meant the scaffolding and the Blue Wall would be down by the end of July and you would all be able to look at the cliff face, not that anyone would be able to walk up the walkways. No mention of that in his original statement.
I used to be an avid supporter of the council when the work started in Jan 2008 but now I believe they should have removed the trees, reopened the top foot path (Rock Walk) and left the cliff face alone.

Look at the photo taken yesterday (all the walk ways look like this) and tell me they aren't going to leave it like this. If they are then Councillor Lewis's statement that it is being built to last 50 years is clearly outrageous. If they aren't then how long will it take to complete the work. I don't care if it is next July; I just want to know.

Grand reopening 2 October

2010-08-27T11:25:00.000+01:00

This is Rock Walk yesterday with only 37 days to the Official Reopening. All looks very busy, lots of work persons working hard. Hope they get it finished or someone is going to sound a little embarrassed when he says "I now declare Rock Walk well and truly open. Err..... sorry but you can only look for the time being but the weather has been against us. Come back in a couple of months." I only say this because Chris Lewis, the deputy mayor did say it would be open by the end of July. Mind you he didn't say which July.

It'll be great when it is finished though.

Grand Opening, Soon

2010-08-16T09:03:00.002+01:00

A SPECTACULAR light show using Torquay Rock Walk as its backdrop will mark the official opening of the £3million restoration project.

A day of celebrations is being planned to mark the end of the controversial three-year project to clear and secure the rock face and create a tourist attraction with its flying staircase, lights and artworks.

Events on October 2 will culminate at 8pm with a performance by Seth Lakeman at the Princess Theatre.

The gardens will be officially opened at midday and there will be live performances and music. There are plans to have workshops and stalls all day for all the family.
The largest community choir in the Westcountry will strike up as dusk approaches, singing some 'rock' songs, followed by an especially commissioned 20-minute light show.
Events will be free, but the Seth Lakeman performance is ticketed at £19.

Cllr Lewis said: "While the gardens will be open for the public over coming weeks, we wanted to arrange something special to really celebrate the new gardens and get local residents and businesses involved.

There is still much work to be done and the place looks a bit of a mess but it is taking shape.

Gone, but replaced by something else.

2010-07-25T09:31:00.000+01:00

The Blue Wall along Rock Walk has finally come down a couple of years after it went up. I think Torbay Council should have closed the road while it was being demolished and had a big party with a free bar-b-que and a band playing but never mind, it's gone. The blue boards heve been replaced by a see through fence so we can see what's happening. And what's happening is the walkways and viewing platform are almost finished, slight delay during the week due to high winds, the crane, like Mr Bye's balloon doesn't work too well in high winds. Not sure exactly when we will be able to climb up and have a look across the Bay at Brixham and Paignton, nor when the top pathway which was closed for 4 weeks five weeks ago will be open either but it will happen soon.

'Singing' sound tests hold up at stairway to heaven Rock Walk opening

2010-07-22T14:13:00.000+01:00

A bit more news on Rock Walk from the local paper dated 22 July 2010

TESTS to ensure Torquay doesn't end up with a 'singing' Rock Walk, just as Shaldon had its 'singing' bridge, were behind delays to the project.

Weather permitting, it is hoped to have the striking new walkways and their decorative wire railings open by the second week in August and the lower path open from the end of this month.

However, the contractors have been unable to use the crane in very windy weather to lift into place the dozens of custom-designed and built concrete steps which will form Torbay's own 'stairway to heaven'. Two days were lost last week.

Lighting has already been reinstated on the pathway at the top of Rock Walk after reports of the area again being used by drug addicts.

Work is under way to put in the Mediterranean style planting which visitors should be able to enjoy on the lower path from the end of July.

Contractors are busy finishing off the contemporary stairways and will be installing decorative wire panels under the handrails on which extra tests have been carried out to make sure they don't create unwanted sound effects.

The steel wires are to be individually tensioned and will create a shell-like pattern as the 230 steps work their way up the cliff face. The steps are having LED lights, and bespoke coloured and decorated feature glass installed in each riser and the lights will be visible across the Bay at night.

With the first plants, some giant stone obelisks and a smooth stone edging to the borders have been put in place, the gardens have already taken on a contemporary modern Mediterranean feel.

The opened out lower pathway offers views across the top of the traffic to the seafront and Bay.

It is aimed to take down the existing road barriers by the end of July. Some work will have to be carried out to repair and mark the road surface ready for the creation of the new meter controlled parking spaces, install traffic calming and signs.

A temporary fence will be installed while the roadworks are carried out.

When reopened the parking will be for three hours maximum with plans to increase that to four hours.

Some 2,000 plants will be going in, and 60 cubic metres of cockleshell used as a mulch.

Electricity cables have been installed for the light to illuminate the cliffs and trees and some of the metal and wood benches are in place.

The shelter at the Torbay Hotel end has been refurbished and an art work will be installed.

New flower beds will be created at that end.

A spokesman for Torbay Council said that as the testing had been done by the company providing the feature, it had not cost any more money.

She also said the scheme had not been delayed.

However it was stated in May that it was hoped to have the pathways open to the public by the end of July though some work on the rock face might still have to be carried out.

2010-07-14T17:56:00.002+01:00

The Blue Wall will come down at the end of next week and Rock Walk will be open to the public at long last.

Well not quiet.Councillor Lewis, the man in charge said: "Everything is on target at the minute for Rock Walk to be opened to the public in the first two weeks of August.

"We never said that everything would be completed by July 30. We said parts of Rock Walk would be unveiled."

This is a quote from the Herald Express and the article went on to say the walkways could be open by mid August.

So when exactly will we be able to use the walkways as opposed to just looking at them. Same goes for the pathway at the top of the cliff from which the area has got it's local name, Rock Walk?

More on open soon

2010-07-04T11:29:00.000+01:00

The photo shows the work being done on the new walk ways. Soon we will all be able to get up there and take photos by the gigobyte of the Bay.

Below is a recent item in the local paper, The Herald Express, about the opening which is due on July 30 which is a Friday so I wiil probably be working.

A DATE has been set for the public opening of Torquay's £3million Rock Walk facelift.

On July 30 the wraps will finally be taken off the controversial scheme to turn the run-down, overgrown but much-loved gardens into the town's newest tourist attraction.

An official opening is planned for the autumn.

Deputy mayor Chris Lewis said the road system would stay as it is this summer.

Parking would be created on the cliff side lane, currently closed off, and the traffic will continue to use the seaside lane.

It had been planned to swap them over.

Cllr Lewis said: "We want to see what is proposed for Princess Gardens and we don't yet know what is happening at the Palm Court Hotel."

Plans to redevelop the Palm Court failed when the development company went into administration earlier this year.

The council has asked the proposed developer of the Pavilion, and buildings along the promenade, to present details to it next month following a public meeting.

Parts of Rock Walk have been closed since 2005 and the reopening has been delayed because of an extra £550,000 piling operation to secure upper pathways in the £3million overhaul.

At the cabinet meeting this week, mayor Nick Bye agreed to set aside £550,000 from its VAT 'windfall' following a successful tax refund appeal, to meet the unplanned extra costs of the project.

Cllr Lewis said they had saved some money on the project until surveys found extra piling was needed for the new pathways and supports because of the ground conditions.

They had kept to within the original £3million budget.

"We didn't want to cut back on the lighting and artwork which is what will make Rock Walk a special experience," he said.

"If we had cut that spending now we would never have finished it, which would have been criminal."

Pathways and a viewing platform have been created up the rock face which will be lit. Art works are also being created.

At night the multi-coloured night-time illuminations will be visible from across Tor Bay.

Parking meters will be installed on the cliff-side lane and it is hoped to create a new coach stop for the theatre.

Soon to be open again

2010-07-03T22:59:00.000+01:00

At last Rock Walk is due to open once again to the public. It was closed in November 2007 as the cliff face was deemed to be unsafe. Trees that had been planted almost a hundred years ago were to blame. Their roots were forcing their way into cracks in the Limestone the cliff face is composed of and expanding those cracks. There was a danger that lumps of rock might crash down onto the busy main road at the base of the cliff. First the trees were removed in a 6 week period at the beginning of 2008. Half the road was closed and a boulder proof barrier was built along the central reservation by ISCA Scaffolding to prevent the possibility of a number 12 bus being hit by debris falling from the cliff. I am glad to say it worked.

Then followed a period of apparent inactivity. The council employed a company to carry out a survey on the cliff face to decide what exactly needed doing to make the cliff safe. In the autumn of 2008 a firm moved in to strengthen the cliff by drilling holes and insetting bolts, hundreds of bolts, into the limestone. Netting was also placed on parts of the cliff and a small area the required concrete support.

Over the last few months work has been proceeding to rebuild the walk ways that zigzag up the cliff so those who wish will be able to climb up and enjoy the views of the Bay and Paignton and Brixham. The footpath at the top of the cliff which is called Rock Walk is also being rebuilt and will open at the same time as the walk ways open. It had been hoped the work would have been completed for the beginning of June but a problem emerged that required extra work. If there are no more problems the area will be open at the end of the month. There will be a formal opening event some time later in the year.

Work Continues

2010-04-21T23:19:00.003+01:00

As you can see there is lots of scaffolding zig zaging up the cliff face. In time this is where the walkways will be. Everyone is confident they will be complete by the end of July and the blue barrier will be removed and tourists and locals alike will be able to enjoy walking up the cliff and finally see the views of the Bay and Paignton and Brixham. Been a long time coming.

Latest News

2010-04-04T12:01:00.002+01:00

So now the total bill for years of neglect is going to be close to £3million. Councillor Lewis, in charge of the project, confirmed that the recently discovered problems on the cliff face will also put back the opening until the end of July. Well what's an other month in the 2 and a half years it has already taken?

No mention was made as to when Rock Wall it's self would be open. Rock Walk is the pathway along the top of the cliff face that has now become the name of the whole area.

Councillor Lewis also said the planned changes to the road at the bottom of the cliff face would also be delayed for the time being. The cliff side of the carriageway would open for parking while traffic would continue to travel along the seaward side as at present. This arrangement would mean, for the time being more space for parking. The intended scheme would reduce the number of parking places in the area is disliked by many. It would have included a taxi rank and coach parking bays outside the theatre and a stop for the land train as well as disabled parking. This would restrict the number of car parking places to about ten compared to the 70 or 80 parking places for cars that were available prior to the work starting in Jan 2008.

Lets hope the wait is worth it.

Work Still Going On

2010-04-01T23:56:00.002+01:00

More scaffolding gone up but it still looks like it will not be open for this summer.

Bad News I'm Afraid

2010-03-16T23:23:00.001Z

THE reopening of Torquay's £3million Rock Walk project is facing a delay.

Unforeseen technical problems in creating new cliff face pathways look likely to push back the date, which was planned for June.

The above words are just a couple of lines from an item in the Herald Express. Last week as I drove past Rock Walk with a coach load of visitors I assured them that if they came back in the summer the Blue Wall would be gone and they would be able to walk up the cliff face and admire the view of the Bay from the soon to be completed walkways. (Should have known better.)

It seems that the supports that were being placed into the cliff face ended up in a hollow space and would have been no support what so ever. Councillor Lewis, the self elected deputy mayor of Torquay explained, "We have got to try to make sure we do it right, even if it costs more and takes longer.

I have a feeling Clr Lewis must hate the words "Rock Walk.". Which is why he keeps calling it Royal Terrace Gardens when everyone else calls it the mess on the sea front. Will he spend the rest of his life having nightmares about the place? Or maybe it will just go over his head.

A Couple of Notices About Rock Walk

2010-02-28T01:56:00.000Z

A Bit More Scaffolding Gone Up

2010-02-28T01:49:00.000Z

Well Work continues even though we haven't had the best of weather recently. We should be able to see the final walkways being built soon. Hopefully Rock Walk it's self open soon as well. Rock Walk is the name of the path that runs along the top of the cliff though the whole area has become known as Rock Walk. This path will need some rebuilding and lighting. The view across the Bay, now visable since the trees came down is spectacular.

It Will Look Good, and be nice to see the back of the Blue Wall

2010-02-24T23:54:00.003Z

Point taken Anon. Perhaps I should have been more specific
about what I meant by 'the work'. True as you say the walk ways work did only start this Jan but the work on the cliff face, that is to clear the trees did start in Jan 2008.
In a recent post I made a comment that may appear to be critical of the firm building the new walk ways up Rock Walk. I also stated that the work had started in Jan 2008. The work to clear the trees from the rock face did start in Jan 2008 which is how long this blog has been running. How ever the council then waited Until Late in 2008 to start stabilising the cliff face. This work included fitting netting to the cliff face and boring holes into which long bolts were inserted to hold the cliff together. This work was finished in the middle of 2009. Then another delay before the walk way work began in Jan 2010. The reason given for both these delays was the council did not wish work and the noise it would produce to take place during the summer season and disturb the holiday makers. This will have delayed the completion of the work by 14 months. Had work continued without these breaks then the work would have been finished 10 months ago and would have been enjoyed by the visitors who were here last summer and we, the residents plus the visitors would no longer have to look at the ugly blue wall that is protecting us all.

I know the cliff face will eventually look good when everything is finished and as someone who went up on the cliff face several time while the trees were being removed fully understand why all this work had to be done. Basically the tree roots were tearing the cliff apart could have sent huge boulders rolling down the cliff and to quote Councilor Lewis," smashed into a number 12 bus"

It was the length of time from start (the clearing of the trees) to the expected completion of the walk ways in June that I was having a moan about in the recent post "A bit of a mess still."

Sorry if I gave the wrong impression.

First Sign of The Bridge

2010-02-18T23:16:00.001Z

One day soon (this year maybe) there will be a bridge across this section of the cliff. It will replace an old wooden bridge that was in a state of collapse before the trees were removed. It was also the centre for what the police discribed as "anti social behaviour". Drug taking to you and me. It is unlikely to return to that recreational use in the future as the whole area will be floodlit at night, till midnight any way

A Distant View

2010-02-18T23:08:00.001Z

On a grey winter's afternoon Rock Walk doesn't look too attractive from the distance. It is not all that appealing close up (see next Picture).

Looks a bit of a mess still

2010-02-18T23:06:00.000Z

It's mid February and this will one day be the main walkway up the cliff. At the moment it doesn't look too promising that it will be open in JUne which is the date the council are hoping for.

The work started in Jan 2008 whichs means it's been going on, in fits and starts for over two years. Remind me again, how long did it take to build the football stadium in Wembley.

Walk Ways

2010-01-23T00:15:00.001Z

Friday

100122

14:12

Rock Walk

The team continue to make progress up the cliff but I am beginning to question the optimism behind the "Open by March" remark made by a Torbay councillor last year.

At Last; Something Happening to Rock Walk

2010-01-16T11:58:00.002Z

Nothing much happens to Rock Walk for years and years. Then I go away for a few days and the place is practically rebuild in my absence. Here work is going on to construct walk ways up to a viewing platform. The whole place will be tastefully lit up to keep the druggies and drunks out, sorry that should read, make the place attractive to holiday makers and us residents. Which will make a change after the last two years of the place looking like a bomb site.

One day soon Rock Walk itself will be resurfaced and provided with lights and the magnificent views of the Bay will be available to all. (Note; Rock Walk is actually the pathway at the top of the cliff but the whole area is now know by everyone as Rock Walk (except the council who continue to use it's old, long winded name. Which is so old and long winded I can't remember what it is) . The trees cut off the views having become overgrown in the 100 years since that were planted and hardly anyone went up there. It remains to be seen if numbers do increase after it is finally reopened)

Work To Start Soon say Council.

2009-10-02T22:59:00.003+01:00

Something happening at last.

From The Herald Express
MAJOR work is due to re-start at Torquay's Rock Walk next week.
The work at Rock Walk and the Royal Terrace Gardens follows months of preparation throughout the summer.
On Monday contractors Obelisk will start building dry stone walls along Rock Walk.

Dawnus has been appointed as the main contractor for the major phase of the restoration works.
The company is now working on the designs for the engineering features of the cantilevered pathway, bridges and viewing platform.
Following an agreement on this work, the contractors are expected to start the building phase once the materials have been manufactured with a planned start date during the middle of November.
The pathway construction will include lighting and handrails which will be installed at the same time.
The Rock Walk pathway from Shedden Hill to Fleet Street will be re-surfaced and new street lighting will be installed as part of the Royal Terrace Gardens restoration works.
Work is expected to start in late October and will take four weeks.
Torbay Council is currently looking at decorative lighting designs for the Royal Terrace Gardens.
It is hoped this phase of work will be going out to tender before Christmas 2009.
An artist, Juliet Hayson, from London, has been appointed to create art and sculpture designs for the main lower pathway.
Deputy mayor and cabinet member for regeneration, Cllr Chris Lewis, said: "This latest round of work marks a huge step forward in our plans to restore Rock Walk and protect its long-term future.

As it looks now, from Cliff Rd Livermead.

Click on the photo to enlarge.

Torbay Road by Rock Walk

2009-08-22T13:19:00.003+01:00

This is the situation now, no parked cars between here and Belgrave Road. Before the work started her in Jan 2008 ( for 6 weeks) this was a duel carriageway road, two lanes in both directions. On both sides of the road the left lane was allocated for parked cars, and coaches outside the Princess Theatre. The big problem when driving along this section of road was cars pulling away from the left lane. Some one would stop to let a car out, not because they were kind sweet souls who just wanted to help a stranger on their way. No, they wanted to get into the parking space. So you would sit there while the car moving off shunted back and forward and pulled away then the car that had let him out would reverse into the parking space, sometimes in a way that suggested they had plenty of practice at reverse parking but usually in a way that suggested it was the first time in their lives they had ever tried this really difficult manoeuvre. And usually this little trick would happen two or three times a trip in the summer, always when you were running late. It happened on the way back as well. Now all that has gone and under the new scheme in which traffic will switch to the landward side of the road, the sea ward side will as I mentioned be for parking, it will remain gone.

Couple of little problems, buses pulling away from the existing stops at the Pavilion will have to get out against traffic wanting to go ahead and get in the parking lane, Please Let The Bus Out. Second problem, before the work started there were two bus stops at the Theatre, one on each side of the road. They are no longer in use but it is a long way from the Pavilion to the next stop at Belgrave Rd. Will they be reinstated and if so they will block the road as there is no room to put in a lay by? Third problem will be the Boy Racers who will try and get in front of the through traffic by nipping through the parking area at 50 mph. I hope there will be suitable provision to seriously discourage them.

I will take my thoughts on this matter down to the Library on Tuesday (I'm working Monday) and mention them to who ever is in charge. Oh yes, one more idea. Will there be someway of stopping mad people walking along the central reservation?

P.S. My thanks to ISCA Scaffold, the company that built the Blue Wall. It was designed to stop rocks falling down the cliff and onto the road putting all our lives at risk. So far no rocks have made it onto the road so the Blue Wall has done it's job admirably. Well done ISCA.

August 24 2009 News Update

2009-08-20T11:34:00.001+01:00

TORQUAY residents and traders have a week to give their opinions on a new layout in one of the town's busiest roads.
Torbay Council has defended its decision to hold the consultation on the new layout for Torbay Road, along Rock Walk, for just one week during one of the busiest times of the year.
The aim is to keep traffic flowing in both directions on the one side of Torbay Road avoiding delays previously caused by vehicles parking.
Many road users have described this as a positive move and have asked the council to keep the layout when the road re-opens fully.
The new design proposes two-way traffic on the land side carriageway for the majority of this section of Torbay Road.
The other carriageway, closest to the sea, would be used to provide parking, taxi rank, coach drop-off and disabled parking, without causing disruption to through traffic.
It will also be used to hold on-street events such as markets, street entertainment and small fairground rides

Deputy mayor and cabinet member for transport, Chris Lewis, said: "During a week-long consultation on Rock Walk's Royal Terrace Gardens last year many local residents, businesses and visitors said they were in favour of a single carriageway design along Torbay Road.
"We have listened to these comments and drawn up these plans.
"Now we'd like as many people as possible to let us know what they think about the design which aims to keep traffic moving along the seafront, while reinstating parking spaces.
"This will be a temporary layout and, if in a couple of years, it proves popular then we will look at making it a permanent feature and more aesthetically pleasing."
He said he had heard of few objections to the proposal but said he would be willing for the public to be consulted further about the new layout if people were unhappy.
A spokesman added: "This week has been chosen following a number of enquiries from the public and we, therefore, wanted to get the proposals out as soon as possible.
"Once we have received feedback from the consultation, we will take comments to elected members to consider any proposed changes, after which we may need to consult again.
"If we find people have not managed to get to the exhibition to express their views, we will, of course, look to extend the consultation period."
Consultation displays will be available at Torquay Library for a week from Monday and at Breezes Café in the Princess Theatre on Thursday, August 27 from 11am.
Comments on the traffic design plans can be made at the consultation events or by email to: www.highways@torbay.gov.uk or through Torbay Council's website, www.torbay. gov.uk/rockwalk

Art Work For Rock Walk

2009-07-08T12:19:00.002+01:00

No much is happening down at Rock Walk at the moment. The work to make sure nothing kills any visitors and locals has finished though the Blue Wall will stay in place for the time being. This is so work can be carried out to replant the area. This is expected to finish by March next year. Once the Blue Wall comes down the road will be reopened. It is expected that the seaward side of the duel carriageway will be set aside for parking and through traffic will use the cliff side of the road. One slight problem with this is there will be no room for the two bus stops, one in each direction, that used to serve this stretch of road. Mind you it has been so long since these bus stops were used that it is unlikely anyone will notice.

Below is an item from the Herald Express dated 7 July 2008

THE search is on to find artists to create two new pieces of art for Rock Walk.

The £24,000 projects will be part of the restoration of the Royal Terrace Gardens with the first anticipated to be finished by Christmas.

Stabilisation works on the cliff face have already finished on budget and restoration work has now started.

Torbay Council has asked art and design consultants Ginkgo to help find an artist to produce work for a grotto found within the lower wall of the gardens.

The grotto is currently empty and the artist will be required to create a 'moment of delight and surprise' for visitors.

The design should compliment the wider regeneration project which celebrates the Victorian love of pleasure, gardens and amusements.

An artist or designer is also being sought to create material on or near a planned viewing platform.

It is hoped the piece would promote a greater understanding of the Torbay's Geopark status and the wider Bay, focusing on the view looking out and away from the gardens.

The interpretation should link Rock Walk to other sites and key locations within Torbay and may highlight the view and its landmarks.

It also needs to be low maintenance, robust and resilient to all kinds of attention from visitors.

Deputy mayor Chris Lewis said: "We want to protect Rock Walk for future generations and I can't wait for these plans to come to fruition, when we create a place where residents and visitors can once again visit and enjoy.

"We are committed to looking at creative ways in which we can revitalise our town centres and support local businesses as well as the creative and cultural community. These commissioned pieces of work will reinforce the local identity, enhance the area and be a landmark that attracts new visitors to Rock Walk and the Royal Terrace Gardens."

Cllr Dave Butt added: "We have a wealth of artistic talent in Torbay and across Devon so I really hope that local artists and designers will register their interest for these projects. The grotto is a really unusual location for a piece of artwork and should inspire many creative ideas.

"I am really looking forward to seeing all the finished artwork in Rock Walk."

The grotto art would be completed by December with the viewing platform material being finished by March next year.

To finish it on time submissions need to be in by July 16 with interviews taking place the following week.

For more information visit www.ginkgoprojects.co.uk

End in Sight ( Who are you kidding)

2009-06-11T11:48:00.002+01:00

This item in the Herald Express came to my attention. It would appear the the work to stop rocks hitting number 12 buses has finished. Now all that needs doing is construct some walk ways and plant loads of exotic plants and that could take a year or more to complete.

Stabilisatiion work on Rock Walk completed
Monday, June 08, 2009, 09:23
THE rock stabilisation at Rock Walk should finish this week but the overall scheme will not be ready for another year.
Contractors will stay on site for a further five days to carry out small works, for example, checking clips which hold the safety nets in place and painting all protruding rock bolts as part of the £1million contract which is on budget.
Restoration work to the Terrace Gardens will begin in the third week of June and is expected to be finished a year later, depending on weather.
Work carried out during this summer will be limited to minimise noise and the movement of heavy equipment to avoid disruption to local business, residents and visitors.
The work includes rebuilding dry stone walls on the site including those around the Royal Terrace Gardens, repairing railings, installing street lighting as well as resurfacing and repair work to Rock Walk footpath. The safety barrier will remain in place until the restoration works have been completed to ensure the safety of contractors.
The main construction works will be held over until the autumn.
The final design for Rock Walk has now been changed following comments received during a public consultation in 2008.
An application for planning permission for the new restoration works will be submitted shortly.
Torbay Council hopes to hold an open day in the near future so residents and traders can examine the final design.
Subject to planning approval, there will be new lighting and pathways and work will start on a viewing platform. The bottom footpath is also being redesigned with seating bays.
All landscaping work will be carried out following completion of the main structural works.
Cabinet member Cllr Kevin Carroll said: "We're absolutely committed to restoring Rock Walk and protecting its long term future. We want to carry out this work as quickly as possible with the least amount of disruption. I would like to thank traders and residents for their patience.
"I can't wait for these plans to come to fruition, when we create a place where residents and visitors can once again visit and enjoy."

More on Nets.

2009-05-26T13:18:00.002+01:00

This is The Great Orme in Wales and is an example of a cliff covered with netting. Still clearly visable years after it was put in place.
Just to give you an idea of what parts of Rock Walk will look like.

Nearly There. Well Perhaps Not.

2009-05-13T20:13:00.004+01:00

Having said on Monday that there had been nothing in the paper about Rock Walk recently this appeared today, Wednesday.

From the Herald Express

WORK to shore up Torquay's crumbling Rock Walk cliffs should be finished by the end of next week.
Experts who have spent months working on the cliff face will have substantially finished their contract by the end of the month.
Chris Flewitt, director of Vertical Technology Ltd, said they had not experienced any major problems during the £1million contract.
The company, which has also tendered for cliff work at Hollicombe Beach, Preston, Paignton, has netted and bolted the cliff, using 200 rolls of 50m square netting.
The netting is designed to last 120 years. Some 50 rock anchors have been inserted, between three and six metres long, to secure key blocks of rocks. Loose rock surface has been sprayed with concrete.
Mr Flewitt said greenery was already starting to grow back through the netting. "We have put a lot of effort into this, but probably by this time next year you won't be able to see it," he said.
They expect to come back in to carry out final checks on the works, probably over 10 days. Though Hampshire-based, they have other work in the area, including at Buckfastleigh.

Cllr Chris Lewis, who was on site to check progress, said work will be taking place creating new pathways this summer so the roadside barrier will remain in place.
The long-term plan is to create parking on the seaward side carriageway and re-open the cliff side of the road to two-way traffic.
"When it is finished it will look really attractive. It is already looking better than it did when you consider the overgrown and dangerous trees and the fact they found 500 hypodermic syringes in there in the first week," he said.
Cllr Lewis said they would keep the barriers up while the work is still going on, for example to protect equipment being used.
The next phase of restoration work will take place during the summer. All the work carried out will be limited to minimise noise, movement of heavy plant and equipment to avoid disruption to local business and amenities. It will also involve repair and maintenance of dry stone walls and railings. The top path will remain closed this summer.

The design will be for a Mediterranean-style planting scheme along the bottom path. Planting will start in early 2010, with most plants established by 2011.
Plants will be established mainly along borders with pocket planting, where possible on the cliff face.
Most of the plants on the cliff face will be left to regenerate naturally.

The netting will get hidden as the vegetation grows through it but what about the netting over bare rock, about 20% of the cliff face is rock? Also it is a shame that the top path is not going top be reopened, probably for an other two years and Councillor Lewis neglects to give even a hint of a completion date, that is when we can start walking along the walkways and admire the view and the plant life.

Work Continues Slowly

2009-05-11T20:01:00.000+01:00

Work continues. Here two teams drill into the rock to fit bolts that the netting will be secured to. This work should be completed by the end of the month or early in June. Then we wait for the next stage, the construction of the walkways and the replanting. The Herald Express has been quiet about Rock Walk for the last few weeks which must mean there is no information coming from Torbay Council at the moment. Maybe they have forgotten all about the place.

Still Putting the Nets Up

2009-04-19T00:15:00.002+01:00

As you can see most of the cliff face has been covered by netting. At the moment it doesn't look good but once the vegetation grows through it will improve, I hope. I have heard it could be a year, even two before the council start serious planting. Don't leave it too long or you will have to hire a crane to clear the scrub a third time.

A close up of the net. Not beautiful is it?

Not Much Longer Now

2009-03-31T23:33:00.005+01:00

Work nears completion to secure Rock Walk
From THE HERALD EXPRESS
Monday, March 30, 2009, 09:22

WORK on the new look for Torquay's Rock Walk should be completed next month.

While contractors are busy clearing and securing the rock face, work is underway on the next phase of the project to turn it into a horticultural attraction.

But the bulk of that stage of the work will not get underway until the autumn.

A spokesman for Torbay Council said: "The design for the restoration works is progressing and will be complete for mid-April.

"Work is now progressing on the design of the path and viewing platform and it is anticipated the tender for final design and construction will be advertised during April for further design over the summer and implementation during next autumn and winter.

"We are hoping to carry out advance works over the summer concentrating on the upper path and railings and drystone walling. This is to keep any noise and disruption to a minimum during the busy summer season.

"Site investigation works will be done during April to establish the ground conditions for the new bridge and path works.

"Planting designs will be worked on over the next few months."

The stabilisation and clearing work is due to be finished in June.

The overall project should be completed by April 2010.

End of story.

Meanwhile a couple more photos of the work.
Looks like a gun emplacement but I suspect this is the bit that is going to need a little bit of concrete to keep the cliff face up.
This section is in the middle of the cliff face and looks the most dramatic. A couple of workmen drill into the rock, much of which does not appear to be completely stable. I hope there will an absence of netting in this rock face or it will look extremely tame.

Progress is being made.

2009-03-26T11:13:00.002Z

Here workpersons are hacking out any loose rocks and fixing bolts to any too big to remove.

Not as exciting as cutting 20 tonne trees down I'm sorry to say. A picture of the cliff face from high up on one of the buildings overlooking the Harbour.

A Wall Not Far From Rock Walk.

2009-03-16T00:15:00.002Z

This is part of the sea wall over looking Livermead Beach. If you look carefully you will notice that the two large lumps of rock are coming loose. You can also notice there is plant life growing out of the gap between these two large lumps of rock forcing the rocks to move ever so slightly.

The rest of the wall for hundreds of metres in both directions does not have plant life growing in the gaps and the rest of the wall doesn't have lumps of rock coming loose. Plant roots might not look all that strong but the do have the effect you can see above. Imagine what effect tree roots would have on this wall. Imagine what effect the tree roots were having on Rock Walk.

Which basically was why the trees had to go.

Netting, nothing but netting?

2009-03-10T18:27:00.002Z

From The Palm Court Hotel in the south to the Pavilion in the north A great plastic curtain is decending across the face of Torquay.

It doesn't seem to make much difference if the cliff face is covered with vegetation or bare rock, soon it will, by the looks of what has happened so far covered with plastic netting.
I hoped the idea was to knock the loose bits down, bolt the big slabs to the bedrock with great long steel pegs and cover any suspicious bits, i.e. might fall down in the next hundred years with net, not just put net curtains over the lot like some front room parlor. But the two photos show curtain at one end and curtain at the other all together looking like some one is just about to draw them across the cliff. What a mess. Why not leave the safety barrier where it is and we can admire from a distance. Building walkways and steps is a crazy idea, no one ever uses them. Just open the top path for the view and let the cliff slowly crumble, It's what cliffs do the world over and have done so for the last 4.5 billion years. Who are Torbay Council to stand in the way of such an ancient tradition?

So we just let the cliff fall down, gradually. The Big Blue Wall can stay where it is, for ever protecting passers by till it too erodes away. At least from a distance it won't look too bad, not if you don't concentrate; and paint it a better colour.

Lots of Changes at Rock walk

2009-03-05T13:10:00.003Z

I have been away for 7 weeks in what used to be the world's biggest prision. Now known as Australia. Personally if my house used to be a prison I would prefer to forget it but there you go. Anyway back to Rock Walk.

When I left the cliff face at the Pavilion end looked like this. Here was where the most rock fall occurred while the trees were being removed. Some of those rock slabs look very big.
Now it looks like this, quiet a change and I missed it all happening, sorry about that. The rest of the work will be fairly tame stuff like below workmen are fixing netting to the cliff at the Mojo end. Tame? Not when there is a 100 foot drop behind you.

The netting looks fairly ugly at the moment but once the vegetation starts to grow through it should improve the look of the place.

Work is due to be completed by June and according to a newspaper report it is on schedule.

Sorry no up date recently

2009-01-17T11:20:00.003Z

This isn't because nothing has been happening. Well nothing did happen for the two weeks over Christmas and New Year but I am unable to get down to Rock Walk at the moment due to the fact I have left the country. No, the tax man isn't after me, I am on holiday. The picture should give you a little clue as to where I am.

I will keep an eye on the Herald Express for any news and will be back by the end of February which is well before the expected completion date.

Closed For Christmas and New Year

2009-01-02T11:44:00.002Z

As you can see nothing much has been happening down on Rock Walk.

The photo above was taken on 17 Dec 08 and the photo below was taken on 31 Dec 08 and there any difference appart from the sun illuminating one photo more than the other. I expect work will start again on Monday.

An Other Foot Bridge Comes Down

2008-12-17T23:27:00.007Z

At one end of Rock Walk 3 teams now drill into the cliff face, before there was only one team working there. Two thirds of the way along a walk way last used 12 months ago when Rock Walk was open to the public is removed.

All that remains lies scattered half way down the cliff face. Twenty minutes later when I went back even this wreckage had been removed. The Vertical Technology teams are not hanging about as they clear the unwanted debris and scrub before placing netting over the cliff face.

I have a feeling the next few days they will slow a little as the photo below shows there is a considerable amount of vegetation to be cleared and the rock face looks much more irregular and more difficult to work on.

Moving Fast.

2008-12-16T14:06:00.003Z

At one end two workers drill in to a net covered cliff to fix the face with 2.5 metre long bolts.
And about two thirds of the way along 7 workers cut back the low lying vegetation prior to laying netting. The vegetation needs to be cut back otherwise when it grows in the spring it will not grow through the mesh and will lift the netting. Not a good idea. Above this section there is a foot bridge from the old walkways, it will have to go.

The remaining third of the cliff will. I suspect be harder than this bit, much more lose rock, this is where Devon Tree Services had the most problems with falling rocks when they were removing the trees.

Small Rocks

2008-12-11T12:55:00.003Z

In one part of the cliff there are workmen drilling deep holes in the rocks to hold them in place with steel bars. Here the rocks are too small to get this kind of attention, there would be so many plates holding the cliff up it would end up looking like a giant Dalek. So these two are attacking the small rocks with pickaxes and sending little clumps of rock tumbling down the cliff. Don't worry there is no one standing at the bottom and there is a safety barrier to stop any rocks that might try and get onto the road. This is the section where, until recently a footbridge stood. If you look carefully you can still see the foundations.

Roots and Rocks

2008-12-09T23:45:00.002Z

Here is what roots can do to rocks, little roots make their way in through tiny cracks, get bigger, crack gets bigger rock falls down. Takes time but roots have nothing else to do but get bigger and don't really care what happens when the rock lands on some one's head.

This section of the cliff was covered with vegetation until a couple of weeks ago.

Boring

2008-12-09T23:04:00.004Z

These two intrepid workers, considering how cold and windy it was today, are drilling holes 2.5 metres into the rock face. Steel rods will then be inserted into the holes and metal plates will be fitted to hold the rock in place. It looks hard work down at street level and I am sure it is hard work 50 feet above street level. I'm not sure how many off these plates are to be fitted, but probably more than two or three will be required. Just to the left a couple of rods can be seen sticking out from the rock face, the pipe going down to the compressor for the drill is hanging from one of them

Rock Walk Bridge Gone

2008-12-06T00:27:00.005Z

Photo below shows the bridge making it's first public appearance in 35 years. This was taken in February 2008 and the 2nd photo shows the rubbish below it.

And more up to date photos taken Dec 2008.

This section of the paths on Rock Walk first came into view in February when Devon Tree Services removed the trees and bushes from in front of it. The ground below the bridge and the bridge it's self was littered with rubbish, beer cans, plastic bags, food cartons and hypodermic syringes due to the area being used by a small group of less desirable tourists. The photo above was taken on Tuesday and when I walked by today, Friday it had gone.

Torbay's Rock Walk Exhibition

2008-12-03T22:53:00.004Z

Torbay Council recently tried to whip up a little interest and excitement in Rock Walk by holding an Exhibition. For a couple of days it was on show in the Princess Theatre which is in the firing line if any 20 tonne rocks roll down the cliff. Then it was moved to the Library in Lymington Rd. This is it.

Not very exciting is it? The top bit has a few photos of Rock Walk as it was and the bottom bit shows an impression of what it will look like when it is finished. The work is expected to cost over a million quid so economies have to be taken where ever possible. The board on the right with the coloured bits of paper are for viewers, if the can contain their excitement, to express their comments, make suggestions and ask questions. I even went so far as to stick a little coloured sticker myself.

There is no sign of an existing foot path (see above) in the new plans and I asked why not. In the new plans there only seems to be one path up then the same path down. Surely we need two paths otherwise there could just possibly a bit of a bottleneck in busy times. And it's more interesting having more than one pathway. Mind who the planers may just see my question, realise they have missed out a vital part of the redevelopment and write me a nice letter thanking me. It could also add a few thousand pounds to the cost.

Netting the Cliff

2008-11-28T16:30:00.003Z

I took this photo to show the workers removing soil and rock debris from the cliff face. It was only when I looked at the photo on the computer did I notice that part of the cliff had already got netting covering it. Once the vegetation has grown a little it will be extremely hard to see. Which should put one or two peoples' minds at rest, I had been told by some that the netting would look a bit of a mess.

Still Dangerous

2008-11-28T15:53:00.005Z

The blue barrier was erected by ISCA Scaffolding on the instruction of Torbay Council to protect passing walkers and drivers from falling rocks. And there have been a few over the past months. Now Vertical Technology have started their work to make the cliff face safe. At the moment his work involves workers hanging from ropes cutting back the vegetation that has grown up since last spring and also removing any scrub and vine roots, and dislodging any rocks that might fall from the face. To protect the trees at the base of the cliff wooden barriers were built round them. In the picture you can see 3 trees have barriers but the fourth tree doesn't. This is because there have been so many loose rocks dislodged that the barrier was blown away. Most of the rocks were no bigger than footballs and the tree seems to have survived. The blue barrier does get in the way of taking photos of the base of the cliff, to see what's down there you have to catch a bus and nip upstairs and hope the driver drives slowly past. Mind you it does stop rocks coming in through the bus windows.

OK not a brilliant picture but I couldn't get the driver to drive slowly, some of them just don't know how to drive at less than 30 mph.

Worker Injured on Rock Walk

2008-11-26T11:41:00.003Z

One of the workers cutting back the vegetation whilst hanging half way down the cliff face was hit by falling debris. He was taken by ambulance to Torbay Hospital with neck injuries. He was waering a hard hat at the time and the injuries were consistant with compression of the neck due to a heavy weight landing on his head.
Construction company Vertical Technology is carrying out work on the site to remove loose debris.Site supervisor Paul Cook said: "There was an incident here on Friday. It involved a rope access technician who was struck on the head by some loose rock.
"He was evacuated from the site by the emergency services and taken to Torbay Hospital."
Mr Cook added: "The kind of injury he suffered is what we would expect from being hit on the head in this line of work.
"He was wearing a hard hat and all safety procedures were in place.
"Vertical Technology are investigating the incident in conjunction with the health and safety department of Torbay Council."
He continued: "It is the first time in 15 years a worker from Vertical Construction has been injured at work."
He said they have already tightened up working procedures at Rock Walk to ensure the safety of the workforce and prevent a similar accident happening again.

So far in all the work that has been carried out here there have been no serious accidents. The worker involved is now recuperating at home and hopefully will soon be fit enough too return to work.

Nice Hanging around in the Sun

2008-11-23T16:19:00.001Z

One team have already been over this area hacking away with chain saws at the larger vegetation. Now a second team are covering the same ground to remove anything that might get in the way of the netting that will be placed over this area.

It looks quite pleasant on a sunny day but winter is coming and wind and rain will make this job much more difficult. Especially all the way up there.

Hacking Away at the Vegetation

2008-11-20T13:43:00.003Z

Net sheet experts are ready to rock
From The Herald Express
Thursday, November 20, 2008, 08:54

TORQUAY'S Rock Walk is losing more of its greenery, but only temporarily.
Workmen are scaling the seafront cliff face to remove vegetation remained after the tree clearance last winter.
This is in preparation for the installation of sheets of rock netting to hold it in place.

The expert contractors Vertical Technology, based in Hampshire, are installing some 9,000 square metres of the netting — the equivalent of nearly five football pitches.
Site manager Paul Cook said it would look like 'metal knitting' to start with, but the vegetation will grow back over it and help knit it all together.

"It will look much better then," he said.
They will also be installing rock anchoring and soil anchoring bolts at strategic points.
The soil bolts are designed to go up to eight metres deep through the soil to the subrock.
Mr Cook said they will also be shotcreting — applying mortar using pressure hoses — in some areas. The £1million contract at Rock Walk is expected to take 28 weeks.

Torbay Council Press Release 19 Nov 2008

2008-11-19T10:05:00.001Z

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.

Work To Start November 10th.

2008-11-09T16:43:00.004Z

WORK starts on clearing and shoring up Torquay's Rock Walk next week. Starting Monday 10 Nov 2008

The company which won the £1million six-month contract to stabilise the cliff face will be setting up site facilities and expects to start work proper on clearing vegetation and loose material off the rocks during the following week.
A substantial area of the rock face will be covered with rock-fall netting and certain areas will be fixed with rock anchors.
The seafront road will continue to remain open during the contract.

And now for something completely different

2008-10-30T00:24:00.002Z

Click here for a short video about which pets you should keep only if you live miles from the nearest neighbour.

The Sea Front May Close Thursday Evening.

2008-10-30T00:11:00.002Z

The forecast for Thursday evening is light showers, low presure, 990mb, and a 25 mph wind from the East. High tide is at 18:50. Shame it will be dark but if the rain isn't too heavy I will get down to the sea front with camera and tripod because the combination of high tide, low presure and an east wind usually mean waves crashing over the sea wall and flooding the main road between Paignton and Torquay.

The aternative to going down and watching the sea front flood is going a neighbourhood watch meeting.

Rock Walk as it Looks Now

2008-10-30T00:00:00.002Z

This is what Rock Walk looks like now. Work should be starting in 10 days and I will be posting photos here once again, hopefully on a daily basis if there is anything to report.

Rock Walk work to begin in November

2008-09-26T10:33:00.000+01:00

From the Herald Express
Tuesday, September 23, 2008, 09:20
11 readers have commented on this story.Click here to read their views.
WORK to repair crumbling Rock Walk will start in November after Torbay Council's development control committee approved plans for the second phase of its rescue.
A contract will be awarded on October 7 with work starting on November 7.
The latest date for completion is June 1, 2009, but Cllr Chris Lewis explained he wanted work finished by the end of April, before the crucial bumper summer season.
Half of Torquay's seafront road has been closed since the cliff face was cleared in the spring.
It is expected to cost up to £1.5million — more than twice the price originally estimated by Torbay Council — to stabilise the cliff face.

Cllr Alan Faulkner asked for the decision to be made before the full council so 'all councillors' could know the 'full cost' of what the council was facing.
But his plea was not backed by any other committee members,
The work, aimed at stabilising the crumbling cliff face, will use dowels, rock pins, concrete dentition ie filling in holes, rock fall netting and shotcrete, a method of blasting cliffs with concrete.
The work will leave only two paths going from the bottom of the cliffs to the top at Warren Road.
Cllr Chris Lewis said: "It's about health and safety.
"And this phase is to put Rock Walk right and make it safe. The last thing any of us want is for a Number 12 bus to be hit by falling rocks." (Oh no?)
He added that the third phase of restoring one of the Bay's prized assets was the exciting one and a capital bid has been submitted to secure funding for Rock Walk's regeneration.
Cllr Ruth Pentney said the committee had no option but to go ahead with the plans.
Cllr Terry Manning said: "Whatever it takes, it needs to be done and whatever it costs, it has to be done.
"The people of Torbay want their Rock Walk back and we have to do this."
According to the council's report, submitted to the committee for consideration, it will take 24 months for Rock Walk to return to its current appearance and the timber footbridges will be removed from the Grade II listed gardens.

Rock Walk repairs delayed

2008-09-08T13:27:00.002+01:00

Below is an article from the local paper.
Basically what is happening is Torbay Coucil have decided that before they start work they have to ask for planning permission; from themselves. Lets hope it isn't refused. One question, why did it take them this long to work that little detail out? Next question, what else haven't they done that needs doing?

Monday, September 08, 2008, 09:34
9 readers have commented on this story.Click here to read their views.

WORK on 'shoring up' Torquay's Rock Walk is to be delayed.

Torbay Council has decided it should ask itself for planning permission before the repair scheme is started.
The cliff stabilisation and protection works should have started at the end of October but have been put back by at least four weeks.
Four companies have been short-listed to do the work.
Cllr Chris Lewis (pictured) has once again reiterated that the work is necessary for the safety of residents and visitors.

A council spokesman said the council had decided it should submit a planning application to itself.
"Initially it was thought we didn't need planning permission, but then when it was investigated it was found another seaside resort had done similar work without planning permission which had caused problems when something went wrong during the process," the spokesman said.
"It was decided that permission would be sought as a precaution. Originally we planned to start the work at the end of October, this has been delayed because of the planning permission until the end of November."
Half of Torquay's seafront road has been closed since the cliff face was cleared in the spring.
It is expected to cost up to £1.5million — more than twice the price originally estimated by Torbay Council — to stabilise the cliff face.
A geological survey revealed parts of the former garden are more dangerous than first thought and will need extensive works.
Cabinet member Chris Lewis said: "There is a huge amount of planning that goes into a project like this before work can begin and the council is making great progress.
"A Rock Walk steering group has been set up with relevant members and officers to help keep the project on track.
"A planning application has also been submitted for the stabilisation work, which we endeavour to start during the first week of November and is expected to take 28 weeks.
"Earlier in the year the council received nine expressions of interest from companies keen to be involved in the essential rock and soil stabilisation works and following reference and financial checks we have now short-listed four very experienced companies," said Mr Lewis.
"The council has now invited the companies to tender for the contract with a closing date of noon on Tuesday, October 7.
"I would once again like to reiterate that this work is being carried out for the safety of our visitors and residents and to protect the long-term future of Rock Walk.
"Officers and members involved in the project are committed to ensuring that the work is carried out as quickly as possible and will be providing regular updates of the progress.
"In the meantime attractive boards have been placed around the harbourside providing residents and visitors with information on the project and these will also be updated as it progresses."
An ecological survey of the gardens has been started by external consultants and should be complete by the end of this week.
Cllr Lewis added: "We are working on a funding bid for £350,000 that has to be in for next week for the restoration planting and other work, and a capital bid is in for council funding for the stabilisation work."

Repair Bill To Rise to £1.5 Million

2008-07-20T11:20:00.002+01:00

THE bill to repair Torquay’s prized Rock Walk could rocket to £1.5million — more than twice the price originally estimated by Torbay Council.
A new survey released yesterday revealed parts of the cliff face are more dangerous than first thought and will need extensive works.
Deputy mayor Cllr Kevin Carroll said: “I am quite prepared to say it will be £1.5million, it wouldn’t surprise me if that is what it comes out as. We started looking at this costing £600,000 at the beginning of the year.”
Cllr Carroll vowed Mayor Nick Bye and the Conservative administration would not ‘run away’ from the problem.
He said: “Whatever it costs we will do it, this is about Torbay and its heritage. It is about the Royal Gardens and we can’t just walk away from this.”
admitted the administration had taken a ‘lot of heat’ over the decision.
The report released yesterday by Tavistock-based consultant engineers Frederick Sherrell Ltd reveals clearance of shrubs in January showed Rock Walk had a ‘very irregular rock head profile with numerous unstable pinnacles and areas of loose, fractured bedrock which were not visible during previous inspections’.
There are two areas of rock face deemed ‘very high risk’ by the report, another labelled ‘high risk’ while other areas are deemed ‘medium to high risk’ across the 10 sites identified needing repair.
Cllr Carroll said: “The most important thing to say is this report proves we were right to strip away the trees and identify the real problems, because if we hadn’t done that there would still be problems we couldn’t see.
“The professionals, the engineers, and the cultural services people were concerned behind the growth there was a big problem waiting to happen, so we took the decision on the advice of the professionals because of the risk to public safety.”
It means the focus of the Royal Gardens will have to change too, as the geological reports says only the ‘central and easternmost paths’ will remain once the stabilisation work is done.
The work will include installing rock fall netting, removing footbridges, digging six exploratory bore holes, installing six-metre long rock anchors and cutting back further vegetation.
Torbay Council has also submitted a bid for Government funding specifically for cultural and heritage projects towards works of art and a viewing platform for Rock Walk which could grace the newly-repaired rock face.
It is expected the barrier around the crumbling site will remain in place during the works which are estimated to take eight months to complete.

More news as it comes in. Work should start in Septemebr and I will cover as much as I can.

Split in rock

2008-06-24T07:48:00.001+01:00

This is due to roots forcing the rock apart. Strong things roots.

Test

2008-06-23T08:59:00.001+01:00

Monday 23 June 2008

Rock Walk, Turning Green

2008-06-08T18:28:00.004+01:00

June 2008

This is Rock Walk as it looks 3 months after the work to remove the trees was completed. The survey has been carried out and there has been little word from the council other than the repairs might cost a 'bit' more than expected.
No one seems to give a damn about the place now the road has been reopened. Not even the slight Rock Fall last Saturday has created a stir.
Work should start in September when the visitors have gone home.

Rock Fall

2008-06-04T09:01:00.001+01:00

A Story from the Herald Express

ROCK FALL DAMAGES ROCK WALK BARRIERS
03 June 2008
Torquay's Rock Walk has been hit by a rock fall.The special barriers erected after the cliff was closed off were damaged in the fall on Saturday afternoon.The damage occurred at the Torbay Hotel end of the cliff face.The cliff was closed off earlier this year after diseased and dying trees were removed from the rock face. It was then declared too unsafe to reopen the inland carriageway of the main seafront road.
Torbay Council is still awaiting the findings of the geologists' report into the state of the cliff face so it can start work on the repairs and reinstatement.Deputy mayor Kevin Carroll said: "We can confirm that there was a rock fall on Rock Walk on Saturday."A collection of rocks and soil fell at the Torbay Hotel end of the cliff landing on the lower path."There was also a larger rock, weighing approximately half a tonne, which caused considerable damage to the fencing below."We are unsure as to whether the rock was projected from the top or rolled down the cliff face."Cllr Carroll added: "Over the last few months there has been a huge amount of misunderstanding relating to Rock Walk."Some people have blamed the council's recent work for the rock falls and we would like to take the opportunity to reiterate the following."At no time did we remove any lower tree trunks or roots during the work."Geologists had already deemed the rock face to be unstable and the council cleared the area to be able to determine how bad the situation was - we did not create the problem, we have simply exposed the extent of it."We are now waiting for the geologists' official report, due out in the next two weeks, which will tell us what needs to be done and approximately how much it will cost."The safety barrier will remain in place until the necessary works have been carried out."It had been hoped to have the geologists report this week but the council has now asked for additional information on the potential cost of the restoration work.Staff at the Torbay Hotel and the nearby Pier Point restaurant were unaware of the fall.

Such a slight fall that the main barrier wasn't even reached never mind damaged.

ROCK WALK COULD BECOME £1M 'GEOPARK'

2008-05-21T00:18:00.002+01:00

I was begining to wonder what was happening. The report was supposed to have been out on May 1 but has been delayed while the council decide how to tell us it will cost even more than they expected.

From the Herald Express
20 May 2008

The true state of Torquay's crumbling Rock Walk won't be known for another fortnight.News of a delay in the geological reports comes as it has been revealed the cordoned-off cliff face could be transformed into a giant artwork as one of a series of £8.2million cultural projects for which Torbay Council could seek £4million from the Government's new Sea Change cultural regeneration funding.

Councillors are tonight being asked to agree a shortlist of projects including the £1million Rock Walk Geopark art scheme, £2.8million for a new arts centre and more at Cockington Court, a contribution to the £1.8million Berry Head restoration project, and £1.35million harbour front improvements scheme for Brixham as part of its fish market regeneration scheme.

These would leave Torbay Council to find £4.2million, including £2million from the South West Regional Development Agency and other sources such as the Heritage Lottery funding for Berry Head, and other council sources included sums included in budgets and not yet ring-fenced.

The report says the council has had 'positive discussions' with the RDA who are 'in principle prepared to provide a contribution to the Sea Change match funding subject to the normal business planning and appraisal processes'.

It had been hoped the Rock Walk report would be published at the end of last week. But Cabinet member Chris Lewis has confirmed it has been held back so the findings of a topographical survey could be published at the same time.

"It looks as if we will need more netting than expected to secure the rock face, but we don't know much more than that at the moment," he explained.

The geological report is needed to allow the consultants to design the redevelopment plan.

Both surveys have now been completed and are being amalgamated. The final report and recommendations are expected by May 30.

A report to Cabinet tonight says the council knows it needs to spend 'a substantial sum' on repairing the cliff face and it is considered Sea Change funding could create an opportunity to match this with a further £1million enabling the creation of 'a powerful artistic statement' as a focal point for Torbay's Geopark status.

The report says: "The site would be integrated into the 'string of pearls' idea for the Geopark across the Bay with particular emphasis on the links to transport interchanges, the seafront, coastal footpath and, in this particular case, the Cockington project."

The Cockington Court 'creative hub' project has been valued £2.85million with a £1.9million bid to the Sea Change pot of funding.

The scheme envisaged is for Cockington and its surrounding area, including linking the country park with the seafront.

Innovative ideas might include a park and ride, dedicated cycle hire and cycle tracks and sculpture trail.

Not Much Happening

2008-04-20T11:13:00.002+01:00

There were a couple of men down at Rock Walk with surveying gear a week or so back. They were pointing their instruments at the rock face so I suppose they were checking if anything was moving. So far it all looks the same but all the plants and trees are budding now so it should start to look a little greener over the next few months.

If there is anything new to report I will do so as soon as I hear any thing.

David

Before and After

2008-04-06T12:05:00.001+01:00

Rock Walk January 2008

Rock Walk March 2008

From the Herald Express 12 Dec 2007

2008-04-06T12:00:00.000+01:00

ROCK WALK CLOSED FOR SAFETY REASONS
10 readers have commented on this story. Click here to read their views.
11:00 - 12 December 2007
Torquay's famous Rock Walk has been closed for safety reasons.

Rock Walk, opposite the crumbling seafront and a landmark location for decades, will be shut from today until 'extensive improvement works' are carried out.Torbay Council said that bad weather has made the walk's decay, first revealed in a report earlier this year, worse and the area will be fenced off until the improvements are carried out later next year.As part of the repairs in late January, Torbay Road will be closed between the Pavilion roundabout and Belgrave Road as a large crane is moved in.

It's not yet known how long the main road will be closed.But deputy mayor Kevin Carroll, said speculation that both seafront lanes may be shut for up to six weeks was 'not a possibility'.He said: "I did hear that it was being proposed. We have said that can not happen. One lane perhaps but not two."A preliminary inspection of Rock Walk took place in January followed by a more detailed review in March.The report highlighted issues relating to the stability of some of the larger trees, but after this weekend's bad weather the situation has worsened.Cllr Carroll said: "Following a rapid change in the weather with strong winds and heavy rainfall and no predicted let-up we have had no choice but to close Rock Walk Gardens."

Fences will be put in place from today to prevent access to the public via the seafront road as well as the footpath off Shedden Hill and Warren Road and will remain in place until the necessary improvement works are carried out."We had hoped to keep the gardens open until the improvement works were carried out. Unfortunately this has not been the case and the bad weather has forced us to close the gardens as a precautionary measure."

Rock Walk; Before the assault.

2008-04-06T11:58:00.000+01:00

These are just a few photos to show how neglected Rock Walk has become over the years. People are saying the council should have done something years ago and blaming the poor sods that are in charge now. But it needed work doing 30 years ago and this lot have only been in since Last May and are doing some thing.
Only in one spot could you actually see anything other than trees.

If you could have sat on that bench this is all you would have seen.

And Rock Walk from Torr Abbey Sands on a bright summers day.

Day One, Mon 28 Jan 2008

2008-04-06T11:57:00.000+01:00

The road has been closed and workmen are preparing the road for the crane, which will arrive this evening.

And the buses are starting on their diversion.

Day Two; Tue 29 Jan 2008

2008-04-06T11:53:00.000+01:00

Monday 28 Jan, the crane arrived the evening before and was to start work at 7 am but some equipment hadn't turned up.

Later that day the top of the first tree was removed.

Day Three; Wed 30 Jan 2008

2008-04-06T11:52:00.000+01:00

The crane, big isn't it?

The first tree for the chop today.

And here it comes, floating serenely down not knowing it's fate.

Two men with chain saws and a big shredder

take 7 minutes to reduce it to wood chip.

Day Three; part two

2008-04-06T11:51:00.000+01:00

The Safety Manager was heard muttering a little prayer.
And here's why.

Day Four; Thur 31 Jan 2008

2008-04-06T11:50:00.000+01:00

Wet and very windy, so the crane stands idle

and a couple of workmen do some maintainance on a support vehicle.

Even the post box and the poor, brand new, lonely bus stop feel completely neglected.

Day Five; Fri 01 Feb 2008

2008-04-06T11:49:00.000+01:00

A slow start as the weather was bad but some work was done.

The top of an other tree heads for the wood chip machine.

Day Six: Sat 02 Feb 2008

2008-04-06T11:48:00.000+01:00

The Crane is still working

but he doesn't seem to be.

And there are all shouting, "Get a move on, the rugby is on the TV at 4."

England lost by the way.

The crowd is begining to drift away.

So up he goes.

Day Six: Part 2

2008-04-06T11:47:00.000+01:00

An other branch loses the battle against the chain saw.

Nice and warm in the cab.

Meanwhile the logs mount up.

Torquay's very own Log Mountain.

Day Seven; Sun 03 Feb 2008

2008-04-06T11:46:00.000+01:00

35 mph wind and driving rain = no work done today.

Day 08, Mon 4 Feb 2008

2008-04-06T11:44:00.000+01:00

Not much work for the last few days by the crane. We have had high winds and lots of rain and it has been too dangerous. So a bit of a progress report.
The trees at the top of the cliff have now gone, the main trunks cut up and lie in several piles a little way down the road and the smaller branches have been shredded and gone, driven away in surprisingly small trucks. The residents of the houses we can now see must have a great view of the Bay and are probably the only people in the country who's property value has gone up this week.
Even though the crane has been under used over the last few days that doesn't mean work has stopped completely. Several of the smaller trees lower down the cliff and the bushes that surrounded them have been cleared away and parts of the walk way have become visible for the first time in many years.
That is a steep cliff and safety lines are in use while clearing the scrub on the lower area of the cliff. Looks like bloody hard work. Not as glamerous as the guy driving the crane or the man up the tree catching the hook but all part of the big picture.

Day 09; Tue 5 Feb 2008

2008-04-06T11:43:00.000+01:00

When I went down the crane was being move so it would be in position to attack, sorry deal with the trees in the photo below.
Meanwhile part of the walk way is revealed
and much scrub removed.
The bloke at the bottom is shouting up to his mate,"Next time you buy a house, get one with a smaller garden."

Day 10: Wed 6 Feb 2008

2008-04-06T11:42:00.000+01:00

An overall picture of the cliff face. You can see to section that has been cleared and the work still to be done.
The Mayor, Nick Bye, turned up today to have a look round. He's the one with the scarf, must think he is Dr who.
Don't step Back. Either a workman working hard to get the project finished on time or a peeping tom going to extraordinary lengths to get a look in a window.
Same tree a bit later, he was a workman after all.
Going to work, me I catch a bus. I know which method I prefer.

Day 10: Continued.

2008-04-06T11:41:00.000+01:00

The extension on the end of the crane has been required due to the height of the cliff and the trees that have been already removed. This extension means that loads of only two tonnes could be moved at one go. However it will be removed soon and loads of 8 tonnes can be moved so bigger sections of the remaining trees will be cut, speeding the work up considerably. I spoke to a site engineer yesterday who said the work was progressing well which means the road at the foot of the cliff should be open sooner rather that later which is good news for us bus drivers and the traders who are effected by this work.

Day 11: Thursday 7 Feb 2008

2008-04-06T11:40:00.000+01:00

Me, no, no we don't have to wear hard hats to drive a bus. Not yet anyway. I am having a look round the Rock walk site so I can report on the progress of the work. A site engineer from Devon Tree Services and the council official in overall charge are both confident the work will be completed on time and having had a good look round and seen close up the work that has been done I can see no reason to doubt then. We are at the mercy of the weather so if we have gales for the next 6 weeks don't shout at me or them. Climbing up one of the many paths to the top of the cliff. It's a long way up and I kept stopping to take photos, actually it was to try and start my breathing going again.
He's a man happy in his work. The cutters take it turns and there is a friendly competition going on to see who can cut the most trees down.
Symbolic.
All of this walk used to be like the section in the fore ground. No view, overgrown, dark and not nice to walk along. Which was why hardly anyone did. Soon crowds of visitors will be queuing up to stroll round the area.

Day 11: Continued

2008-04-06T11:39:00.000+01:00

One hundred years old, 35 feet tall, 15tonnes of wood and all it did was stand here slowly photosynthesizing, turning carbon dioxide into oxygen in a desperate attempt to save the planet. Oh yes, and forcing the cliff face apart as it dug it's roots deeper and deeper and waiting for the day when it would fall down onto the road 200 feet below. And knowing my luck I would be the poor sod driving the bus it hit. The bus laden down with 80 passengers all, up to that moment enjoying their holiday on the beautiful English Riviera. Now the trunk waits in a pile on the road below to be taken away and turned in to toilet paper, it's branches have already been put through the shredder and will be spread on flower beds around the Bay. So it wasn't all for nothing after all.
And the view now it, and it's many children have gone.
Though not all of then. Some view if you could actually sit on this bench. It will get better soon.
Cutting the large trees down is the glamour job, clearing the scrub on the end of a safely line looks much harder and not such a good photo opportunity

Day 12: Friday 08 Feb 2008

2008-04-06T11:38:00.000+01:00

I always liked this tree, for one thing it was at ground level and clearly visable as I drove past. It reminded me of the trees in the Lord of the Ring, just waiting to tap you on the shoulder as you walked past. Well not any more.
And I only went for a cup of coffee.

Day 13: Sat 9 Feb 2008

2008-04-06T11:37:00.000+01:00

Just how hard is it to cut a tree down? Well first you wait for the crane to bring the hook.
Which you have to catch then
fix it round the trunk. Swing too little chain round the trunk and you can't catch it. Too much and it bashes the back of your head.
Having fixed the chain to the trunk a little climb down to use the heavy, dangerous chain saw which has lots of sharp bits moving very fast. Climbing down involves removing one safety harness to get past the branch stub, swinging that round the tree below the stub and fasening it again. Then remove other safety harness, swing that round the tree and so on, three times.
All this is done while your mates look on and give you marks out of ten.

Day 13: Part Two

2008-04-06T11:36:00.000+01:00

Just one more branch stub to get past
Now the chain saw.
Still the chain saw but from the other side.
Away it goes.
Lots of people watching, almost as many as Torquay United get on a home game.

Day 13: Part Three

2008-04-06T11:32:00.000+01:00

lowered to the ground, 1.5 tonnes. Soon to become newspaper if it's lucky, bog roll if it isn't.
Meanwhile the cutter waits for the hook.
Which arrives at 15:24. Twenty minutes after the first picure was taken.

Day 14: Sunday 10 Feb 2008

2008-04-06T11:31:00.000+01:00

A beautiful sunny day, wind speed 2 mph, no sign of rain. Also no sign of any work being done. What will the local traders think. Who cares, it's Sunday and the boys from Devon Tree Services are having a day off. Probably doing a bit of gardening by way of relaxing.

Day 15: Monday 11 Feb 2008

2008-04-06T11:30:00.000+01:00

Plenty happening further along the cliff face but I was very short of time so I only got this shot of these trees wondering if they had been forgotten, was it their lucky day. Come back in a few days and find out.

Day 16: Tuesday 12 Feb 2008

2008-04-06T11:29:00.000+01:00

Even smaller trees come down in stages and involve quiet a lot of work for the cutter and the two guys on the groung feeding the branches into the shredder.

Day 16: Continued

2008-04-06T11:28:00.000+01:00

Day 17: Wednesday 13 Feb 2008

2008-04-06T11:27:00.000+01:00

The three large tree on the right of this photo are on the cliff face and are going. The three smaller trees in the centre are not on the cliff face, they are in someone's back garden, something I hadn't realized until now.
An other tree that used to look like it was part of Rock Wall but also turns out to be in a garden and isn't going.
Meanwhile work continues clearing the scrub, some of it pretty big lumps of scrub. This was over 10 feet high and 15 feet across.

Meanwhile a couple of before and after pictures.