My Council

Howe Plate Award 

Each year the Town Council gives an award to the person or persons whom it feels has provided a local public service that has benefitted local people.  This could be something that they have done over a number of years, or something that has made a big difference in a short space of time. 

The criteria states that the time given is voluntary and the people benefiting are within the parish of Great Torrington. 

Young People’s Award 

The Town Council is keen to recognise the contribution young people in Great Torrington make towards our community.  A new Great Torrington Town Council Young People’s Award has therefore been established, and we are looking forward to receiving your nominations for this award. 

This award is looking to recognise an inspirational young person or group of young people up to age 25 who have volunteered their time for the benefit of others and have made an outstanding contribution to make our community and our world a better place. 

Nominations 

If you would like to nominate someone for consideration for either the Howe Plate Award or the Young People’s Award, please get in touch. Nominations should be accompanied by a written explanation as to why you believe the person or persons should be considered, what they have done, how long for and who has benefited.  Please limit explanations to no more than one side of A4 paper. 

Please send or drop-in your nominations to Great Torrington Town Council, Castle Hill, Torrington, EX38 8AA or email to [email protected], all nominations to be received by midday on Tuesday 25th March 2025. 

Are you concerned about speeding in your neighbourhood? Did you know you can work with Devon & Cornwall Police to set up a Community Speedwatch? Volunteers from the community use detection devices to monitor local vehicle speeds. They receive training, equipment and support from the local neighbourhood policing team.

To get started you need to have a team of 4 people, one of which will need to be the Group Co-ordinator. If you are concerned about driving speeds in a particular area in Torrington and you have a small group of volunteers, then please sign up using the following link to the appropriate website.

https://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/wsi/watch-schemes-initiatives/speedwatch/community-speedwatch/

Yesterday, the Mayor, Cllr Phil Cloke, officially unveiled a Scots pine tree planted on Millenium Path on the Commons in memory of His Late Royal Highness, Prince Philip. We’d like to thank the Commons Conservators for allowing the Town Council to plant this memorial tree on the Commons and to Al Mitchell, their Head Ranger for planting and watering it (which isn’t an easy job!) while it establishes.

For Information:

The introduction ceremony for the Mayor of Great Torrington Town Council will be held on Wednesday 22nd May 2024 at 7pm at Great Torrington Town & Community Hall.

Members of the public are very welcome to attend but we do need to know numbers for refreshments, so if you are planning to come along, please let the Town Council know by 5pm Tuesday 15th May 2024. Contact us on 01805 626135 or e-mail [email protected]

The commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the D Day landings is on Thursday June 6th. There is a national programme of events and Great Torrington will be joining in with these where possible. The Town Crier will begin the day with a proclamation at 8am in the Town Square. The bells of St Michael & All Angels will be heard as part of the national Ringing Out for Peace initiative at 6:30pm.

We are working with the Cavaliers to organise the lighting of a beacon on the evening of 6th June and would like to encourage all members of the community to come along to this. We would especially like to invite veterans of all conflicts who are based in Torrington to attend this event so if you or anyone you know is a veteran, please do make contact on 01805 626135 or [email protected] to discuss attending. Torrington Silver Band will be playing before the beacon is lit between 8-9pm to mark the anniversary of this important date in our history.

Please see posters and social media nearer the time for further details.

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