Skip to content Skip to left sidebar Skip to footer

Great Torrington Town Council

Mace Bearer – Carole Weeks

Our first female Mace Bearer (as far as we know!), Carole has lived in Great Torrington all her life. She comes from a family who have resided in the town for several generations. She loves its traditions and is keen to play her part in keeping them alive.

A huge fan of Mayfair, she joined in with the maypole dancing and the guard of honour for the May Queen and her entourage as a child.

She has had several jobs over the years including working for School Pictures at Greenbank, the meat factory, social services, and Dartington Crystal where she met her husband, Paul. Indeed, her connection to the glass factory goes back to when her Swedish step-father helped to set up the glass factory in the 1960s.

Carole now runs her own cleaning business, a venture she embarked on nearly 20 years ago.

Carole applied to be a Mace Bearer as it is important to her that the traditional roles of the town are carried out by local people. She was delighted to take up the post in 2022 and now attends the Town Council’s numerous civic occasions.

Council Procedures

The Town Council follow a set of procedures to ensure that they operate an efficient , transparent and accountable service to its residents.

Confidence in local democracy is achieved when elected councillors are seen to live up to the high standards that the public expect and paid officers work to a robust set of procedures . Every Council is required to adopt a Code of Conduct which sets out the rules governing the behaviour of its elected , co-opted and independent members. In addition , members are required to record on the public register, their financial and other interests.

The Great Torrington Town Council and its members follow a set of procedures to ensure that the service they offer to you , is efficient , transparent and accountable. A copy of all Town Council procedures are available by clicking onto the related download below.

Visit Great Torrington

This friendly, welcoming town, set in the heart of rolling, unspoilt green countryside, has become recognised as an important heritage centre for the history of the 17th century.  Great Torrington had a significant role in the English Civil War, specifically, the Battle of Great Torrington in 1646 which marked the end of the Royalist resistance in the West Country. This led to the eventual defeat and execution of King Charles 1.

Great Torrington today is a vibrant community and people in the town, proud of their heritage, can often be seen dressed in 17th century costume for re-enactments, festivals and celebrations. Great Torrington, the town on the River Torridge, is an ancient settlement extraordinarily sited on a cliff top with steep drops down to the River Torridge below. This impressive situation has always been valued for its strategic importance; now it is valued for its spectacular views. The Torridge Valley lies in the very heart of Tarka Country. This wonderful landscape has remained practically unchanged since Henry Williamson found inspiration here to write his classic novel ‘Tarka the Otter’ in the 1920’s.

On the first Thursday in May the annual May Fair celebration takes place, first held in 1554, complete with the crowning of the May Queen plus Maypole and Floral dancing in the Town Square (see video below). The Fair culminates with the Carnival procession on the following Saturday night. Later in the year there is a week of entertainment by the town’s own Silver Band. Every few years during August Bank Holiday Weekend there is a charity bonfire event that is second to none and then as Christmas approaches, a candlelit “Big Sing”.

Please click HERE to view a Map of Great Torrington.

Please click here to visit the One Great Torrington website for more information about things to do and places to stay in Great Torrington

Neighbourhood Watch

A local neighbourhood watch is a group of like-minded neighbours getting together to help reduce crime and make their community safer.

The aims of Neighbourhood Watch are:

To prevent crime by improving security, increasing vigilance and maintaining a caring community.

To assist the police in detecting crime by encouraging prompt reporting of criminal or suspicious activity.

To reduce undue fear of crime by providing accurate information about risks and by promoting a sense of security and community spirit.

To improve communication between police and the community.

How Neighbourhood Watch works

Schemes are run by their members and led by a resident volunteer co-ordinator, whose job it is to get people working together and make sure things get done.

The co-ordinator liaises with the police and acts as a voice for the community. Some schemes also have a committee that meets regularly to plan which problems to target and what actions to take.

Schemes are supported by the police, the local authority and their local Neighbourhood Watch associations.

Neighbourhood Watch schemes vary in size – they can be large, covering most of the houses on an estate, or they may involve just a few houses.

To find your local scheme please visit https://www.ourwatch.org.uk/get-involved/find-my-local-neighbourhood-watch/find-my-local-scheme

Devon and Cornwall Community Watch Association

‘Protecting our homes and our possessions is our responsibility. We are responsible for making sure we and our family are safe. Neighbourhood Watch can give us the knowledge and skills to be aware of, and avoid, the dangers. Being part of the problem solving process is very satisfying. That is why for me 20 years on I am still as passionate about Neighbourhood Watch as I was when I started.’

Julie Dowton

Contact details:

Plough Arts

The Plough Arts Centre

The independently managed Plough Arts Centre provides residents and visitors the opportunity to enjoy theatre, cinema,  music, comedy, art exhibitions, a rural outreach and an outdoor performing arts programme. It has an enviable reputation for its diverse and entertaining work and is a much valued facility locally.

The Plough web site has information on its live events, its exhibitions and workshops and describes itself, very aptly as ‘the largest arts centre in the smallest town’ and we know our positive impact is felt across the region”

Check out The Plough website for more information.

tarka trail

Walking and Cycling

tarka trailGreat Torrington has superb hilltop location, giving extensive views up and down the Torridge valley.

There is a network of paths over the various parts of Torrington Common toward the town, providing many safe and enjoyable walking trails in and around the town.

Residents and visitors can walk 20 miles of footpaths, ranging from the golf course in the north; ancient wood and wild flower meadow in the west; and down to the river Torridge valley to the south of the town.

There is access from the Tarka trail for walkers. This part of the Tarka trail for cyclists is least well known but is the most peaceful and scenic stretch up to East Yarde and Meeth.

Please see the useful links below for information regarding the Tarka Trail, Torrington Commons and Cycle Hire.

http://www.tarkatrailguide.co.uk/

https://www.torringtoncommons.org/the-commons/walks-and-maps/

http://www.torringtoncyclehire.co.uk/

https://www.visorando.co.uk/walk-planner.html

Fitness

The dryside activities are based at Great Torrington School – an All Weather Pitch, a Sports Hall and a Fitness Gym.

For further information – Call 01805 623085 (pool) 01805 624767 (hall)

 

A Gym and Fitness Centre has recently opened in Castle Street in Torrington, details of which can be found at www.functionfitnesstorrington.co.uk/

 

For links to many other Sports Groups available in the town please go to “Useful Links” under Contact Us on our website.

Public Conveniences

Torridge District Council manage and maintain public conveniences at many locations throughout the district.

Torridge District Council is working hard to improve the standard of public conveniences for which it is responsible. Improved lighting, reduced water consumption and higher standards of cleanliness are just three of the issues being addressed.

As part of an ongoing refurbishment programme, Torridge is introducing facilities for disabled users and baby change facilities wherever possible. Where fitted, ‘Wallgate’ hand wash/dry units will provide warm water and soap and hot air for hand drying. ‘No-touch’ flushing mechanisms will also provide a more hygienic and reliable method for flushing w.c’s.

Many of Torridge District Councils public conveniences include accessible toilets for people with disabilities. These accessible toilets are open 24 hours although the majority are fitted with ‘RADAR’ locks. The national ‘RADAR’ (Royal Association For Disability And Rehabilitation) scheme requires users to have a special Radar Key to gain access to accessible toilets. Keys can be obtained from The Burton Art Gallery in Bideford.

  

South Street Public Conveniences          The Commons Public Conveniences

Opening times for Torrington Public conveniences:-

LOCATION

OPENING HOURS

FACILITY FOR DISABLED USERS

BABY CHANGING
Summer Winter Full Partial Radar
Pannier Market 8.00-20.00 8.00-18.00 – Yes – Yes
The Commons 8.00-21.00 8.00-19.00 Yes – Yes Yes
South Street 8.00-21.00 8.00-19.00 Yes – Yes Yes
PUBLIC CONVENIENCES AVAILABLE THROUGH PARTNERSHIP
Swimming Pool During pool opening hours – Yes – –
Castle Hill During normal office hours Yes – – –