Two shipping containers aren't sailing anywhere

They've been granted retrospective permission to stay

Two 20-feet shipping containers at Torre Abbey Sands have been granted retrospective permission to stay by Torbay Council’s planning committee, despite one councillor condemning them as a ‘carbuncle’.

It represents a gamble paid off for the Wesup, a food and paddleboard business with operations in Falmouth and Southampton as well as Torbay. Despite the warnings of officers, the owners placed the containers on the site without planning permission because it is alleged they did not want to miss out on seasonal tourism revenue.

They submitted a planning application in April this year but opened nonetheless in May before it could be considered by the council.

The business is at Torre Abbey Sands promenade, with one container serving food and another being used for paddleboard rental. They sit on a stone wall between the beach promenade and the footway on Torbay Road, although they had originally been placed in Torre Abbey’s grounds, before being forced to move.

Although councillors have now granted permission, they have demanded several changes to the application, including restrictions on the time the units can open. 

The containers will be allowed to operate from May to September, between 2021 and 2025. As temporary structures, they must be removed between 6 October and 24 April each year and permanently taken away by 10 October 2025.

From next year the containers must be fully clad to be more in keeping with the area. The one used as a food outlet will be allowed to sell pre-prepared snacks, paninis and hot drinks, but not hot meals. The paninis will be prepared on a grill but no other hot food will be allowed as it is believed the equipment would take up too much space and potentially create unwelcome smells on the beach.

Some Torbay councillors found the containers’ appearance to be contentious. Councillor Jack Dart (Liberal Democrats, Ellacombe) praised the overall appearance, but Councillor Jacqueline Thomas (Conservative,  Kings Ash) was not so keen, telling the committee: “For me, I feel this is a blot on the seafront. It’s not conducive with the council’s aims of being a premier resort in the UK.

“In the words of Prince Charles, I feel this is a ‘carbuncle’ on the landscape.”