My Council

The Town Council has vacancies for 2 Co-Opted Councillors to join us. 

Becoming a Town Councillor will give you the opportunity to get involved with various projects and interests within the community of Great Torrington.  If you are passionate about the town, prepared to get involved, and meet at least one of the criteria below, we invite you to contact us to discuss the application process. A written form is available on our website and encourages you to demonstrate why you are interested in volunteering to become a Town Councillor and what you believe you can bring to the role. If you are interested but a written application or form filling is a barrier to applying, please get in touch (01805 626135). 

If the answer to at least one of the below statements is “yes”, you are eligible to apply to be a Town Councillor: 

1. I am registered as a local government elector for the parish; or 

2. I have, during the whole of the twelve months preceding the date of my co-option, occupied as owner or tenant, land or other premises in the parish; or 

3. My principal or only place of work during those twelve months has been in the parish; or 

4. I have during the whole of the twelve months preceding the date of my co-option resided in the parish or within 3 miles of it. 

Application forms can be obtained from the Town Council office or downloaded here.

Cllr Dave Parish says, “I am proud to be a Town Councillor I immensely enjoy the experience and I’ve learnt so much in the process. 

It is a pleasure to work with a truly dedicated team of Councillors who volunteer their time to contribute to making Great Torrington a ‘Great’ place to live. 

There is so much more we can do. Be part of the future, ‘Come and join us.”

For an informal chat with one of the team, please call the office on 01805 626135. 

Applications can be posted to or dropped in to our offices: Great Torrington Town Council, Castle Hill, Great Torrington, EX38 8AA or sent by email to [email protected]. 

Jennie Smithson, Town Clerk 

Just started a new business

Own an existing business

Torridge District Council is inviting business owners to register their interest in an evening food concession for the upcoming spring and summer season!

Three temporary pitches have been made available – Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity!

Bideford Quay (Opposite Post Office)

Great Torrington South Street (Sydney House) Car Park

Holsworthy Manor Car Park

The concessions will be let from April to September with a license to trade running from Monday to Sunday between 4pm and 9 pm.

Click on the link below to apply, or call the Council Estates Officer if you would like to know more:

www.torridge.gov.uk/lettings

01237 428738

Applications close on Monday 11th March.

At our first meeting of 2024 members welcomed Councillor Jason Isaac to Great Torrington Town Council. Jason has been working on the Regeneration Strategy for Great Torrington since September 2023, and has been a key local representative. He then applied for a Co-opted seat on the Council in December. Members voted unanimously in favour and were keen to welcome Jason with his broad local knowledge and experience.

Councillor Isaac said “As someone who both lives and works in Great Torrington, I am deeply invested in our town’s success. I’m driven by a strong desire to ensure Torrington doesn’t lag behind neighbouring towns but prospers equally.

My focus includes fostering economic growth, attracting businesses, promoting tourism, and safeguarding our unique natural environment and historic character. Together with fellow councillors and the Mayor, I am dedicated to advancing Great Torrington’s interests and ensuring our town flourishes alongside our neighbours.”

There are still two vacancies on the town council so if you are interested in becoming a councillor, please contact us on 01805 626135 or [email protected] to find out more.

You may have noticed that during a very wet and windy week in January the Town Council Technicians and Chops Tree Services were busy removing the wooden fort in Trafalgar Drive play park. The fort was about 15 years old and it was rotting and becoming dangerous, so Council members decided to remove it before it deteriorated further.

At the Environment Committee meeting in January, Alan Williams gave an update on Jubilee Wood and mentioned that Devon Wildlife Trust had suggested some nesting boxes would be a good addition to the area. With the planned dismantling of the fort, we were able to work with Alan, his team of volunteers and Torrington Men’s Shed to organise the transfer of some of the better planks from the fort, to be used to make the nesting boxes for Jubilee Wood. This is a great example of coordinated community working to reduce waste and enhance the natural environment.

We are now considering how the space at Trafalgar Drive could be used and what equipment people would like to see there. If you would like to tell us your thoughts, come along to our Annual Parish Meeting on March 21st, 2024, 7pm at Great Torrington Town Hall. We will also be gathering views and ideas outside of the Bluecoat Primary School on March 5th.

We are interested to hear from all members of the community who may have ideas about this: if you know of a young person who likes drawing or making models, perhaps they could create a plan or model of their ideas. These could be brought along on March 5^th or bring them to the Town Council offices before March 21st.

The Great Torrington Annual Parish Meeting will be held at Great Torrington Town Hall on Thursday 21st March 2024 at 7.00pm.

This meeting is an opportunity for you to speak directly with your Town Councillors and a chance to have your say on future priorities for the Town Council.

If you are curious to know more about what your local council does, this is an opportunity to find out.

Local councils are the first tier of local government and work towards improving community well-being and providing better services. Their activities fall into three main categories: representing the local community; delivering services to meet local needs; striving to improve quality of life and community well-being. (www.nalc.gov.uk/about-local-councils)

At this year’s meeting we are hoping to have invited speakers and displays from community groups. Reports from Full Council and the Council Committees will be available, as well as a report on the Council’s finances.

The Annual Parish Meeting is an opportunity for Registered Electors who live in the parish of Great Torrington to come along and hear about projects that the Council have been working on this year, and to have their say on things they would like the council to work on in the future.

It would be great to see a good selection of members of the community at this short meeting, refreshments will be available, and we will be seeking your views on priorities for the Town Council going forward.

We would really like to hear the views of registered electors in Great Torrington and would ask that you use the space below to respond to the questions asked, and to send in your own questions and suggestions. (Please refrain from using any names of individuals or businesses in your answers or questions. If you would like an individual response, please include contact details).

Your responses can be returned to Great Torrington Town Council offices at Castle Hill (above the library), the Museum, or Torrington Library. Alternatively, you can email us your responses. Responses by March 14th.

If you would like to discuss an issue further, please do contact the office on 01805 626135 or [email protected].

Your Council would like to know:

What do you like most about living in Great Torrington?

What do you think would make living in Great Torrington even better?

My question/suggestion for Great Torrington Town Council: