A bold blueprint to reshape a town’s future has been laid bare, with optimism, scepticism and long-standing frustrations surfacing in equal measure as leaders debated how to bring new life to Bideford.
Members of Torridge District Council’s community and resources committee heard from those behind the Bideford Regeneration Strategy and Masterplan, with speakers stressing the plan is both ambitious and achievable.
Claire Coghill, chair of the Bideford Regeneration Board, said the strategy had been built on “goodwill” from businesses, residents and partners, and focused on realistic outcomes.
Claire said: “It is all very doable. It is all very deliverable. It is no pie in the sky plans.”
She added that the work had been driven by volunteers committed to the town’s future.
Claire said: “We do it because we love our town and we see a fantastic future… we owe it to the young people of the town to make a real difference.”
The strategy, which centres on five key pillars including the quay, business growth and community vibrancy, has already been published for public feedback.
Chris Fuller, economic development manager at Torridge District Council, stressed the document is not a council-led plan alone but a collaborative effort.
Chris said: “It is not per se a Torridge District Council strategy. It has very much been a collaborative piece of work.”
He added that widening participation had been a priority, including involving students from Bideford College in meetings.
Chris said: “It is critically a way of trying to find new voices… not just the same people having the same conversations that lead to the same outcomes.”
More than 120 people attended the public launch, including young people and representatives from regional bodies expected to play a role in securing future investment.
However, councillors made clear that delivering the vision will require significant effort and cooperation.
Cllr Jane Whittaker welcomed the plan but warned challenges lie ahead.
Cllr Whittaker said: “It is time to do this to the town, but it will need a huge amount of effort and a lot of cooperation from our local authority.”
She also suggested more radical changes to the town’s layout, including removing parking along the quay.
Cllr David Brenton raised concerns about the absence of a chamber of commerce, asking whether steps were being taken to re-establish one.
Mr Fuller said previous attempts had struggled due to limited engagement and impact.
He said: “The Chamber of Commerce very much became a self-enclosed talking shop… with no actual route to any of those things being delivered.”
He added that new networking opportunities would test whether there is demand for a replacement.
Members also discussed wider issues including traffic, heritage and town identity.
Cllr Philip Pennington questioned whether the plan adequately addresses congestion and called for ideas such as park and ride schemes to be considered.
He also highlighted the town’s literary and cultural heritage, including connections to author Henry Williamson and the character Tarka the Otter.
Cllr Pennington said: “There is a fantastic heritage there, but we are not celebrating it.”
Mr Fuller confirmed that Devon Highways had been involved in shaping transport elements within the plan and that improving links between the town centre and quay was a key objective.
Councillors also emphasised the need to ensure regeneration benefits the whole town, not just the waterfront.
Jon Walter, from Torridge District Council, said the real success of the strategy would be in building confidence and momentum.
He said: “The big win is that the town is starting to back its own improvement, once it has the belief, it will do more.”
Cllr Teresa Tinsley, a member of the regeneration board, said the strategy strikes a balance between ambition and realism.
Cllr Tinsley said: “What you need is a balance… economic, leisure, cultural and social, and getting the gears in motion so that things follow through.”
She added that public understanding of ongoing work needs to improve.
Cllr Tinsley said: “There are things happening already, but it is very slow and quite difficult to turn things around.”
The meeting concluded with agreement that while the strategy offers a clear direction, its success will depend on continued partnership, community involvement and securing investment.
The committee noted the report and ongoing progress of the strategy, which aims to guide development in the town through to 2031.
