Devon's newest rooftop bar opens to public for 12-month trial
But it hasn't gone down well with everybody
The future use of a controversial rooftop bar at a Torquay hotel will be decided by a committee of elected councillors in future.
Questions were asked after torbay -council>Torbay Council officers decided who could use the spectacular bar on the roof of the newly-built Hotel Indigo at Corbyn Head.
Using their official delegated powers, they decided to allow a year-long trial which means non-residents can drink and dine at the bar which is called ‘The Cast’ and boasts ‘stunning sea views’.
The hotel website says: “It’s the kind of spot where you come for the view, stay for the next round, and leave with a new favourite bottle or dish, all while soaking up the coastal breeze in an easy-going, design-led setting.”
Non-residents had originally been barred from using the rooftop area after neighbours raised concerns over increased traffic and late-night noise.
Now the original decision has been overturned for a 12-month trial to see if the rooftop bar can open to the public without causing problems for people living nearby. It already operates a strict 10pm shutdown.
The decision process was raised by Cllr Nick Pentney (Lib Dem, Tormohun), who asked why officers were not instructed that the matter should be decided at a committee meeting.
Planning committee chairman Martin Brook (Con, Collaton St Mary) said the decision had been taken under delegated powers.
He told Cllr Pentney: “This approach was agreed as appropriate for the nature of the application and is a lawful and routine part of the planning process.
“I can assure you that the council fully considered the representations and consultations made and reached a conclusion based on local and national policies. Use of delegated powers does not reduce the level of assessment undertaken and you will be aware that this decision only removes the condition on a temporary basis to allow further information on impact to be gathered.”
Cllr Pentney then asked him: “Given the sensitivity around this site, would you commit to any comparable applications to come to the planning committee and be decided by elected members?”
Cllr Brook said the case of the Hotel Indigo would come before the planning committee once the data from the year’s trial had been compiled.