Teignmouth Post and Gazette No 4922 Friday 18 June 1976

HOUSE TO BE DEMOLISHED

One of three houses in Bitton Park Road will have to be demolished to allow for the building of a 72inch diameter storm culvert as part of the flood alleviation works for Bitton Brook, at a cost of £174,000. The route starts outside No 32, First Avenue.

The culvert will run through No 153, 155 or 157 Bitton Park Road, and connect directly with the discharge point on the River Teign. The money will have to be found by delaying other approved schemes. When dealing with such a serious matter as the potential flooding of the town, it was essential to get the scheme right.

CAR PARK CHARGES

There is no doubt that some attendants have been abused and insulted by angry drivers, who may be hot and tired, and annoyed at being asked to pay an exorbitant 50p. So far, the exchanges have not escalated into actual violence, but as the summer crowds grow, and parking problems mount, it is not impossible that this may happen. Some holiday makers simply turn around and drive off to Torbay, where the charges are more realistic. This is damaging the town’s image, as well as costing local businesses money.

SHALDON ZOO

Two African pygmy goats have been born at Shaldon Children’s Zoo. They are only a few inches high, and are unlikely to be more than two feet high when fully grown.

OPEN-TOP BUS

Sunday 20 June will see the “maiden voyage “ of the service from Torquay to Dawlish, writes Malcolm Lynch.

Trippers crossing Shaldon Bridge are advised that the strong breeze will immediately blow off Panama hats and kiss-me-quick sombreros onto angry swans.

The road twists up to Labrador, where the trees cover the road. Passengers will be left holding branches of oak and elm all the way down. The Fire Brigade will rescue them, but the fire chief might decide to get them in alphabetical order. Youngs and Williams would be advised to cary ropes.

At Maidencombe, the bends get sharper, and the road runs nearer the cliffs. To miss the rabbits, the bus has to apply its brakes hard. Upstairs passengers should pull the parachute cord. Some may land in the sea, where they can inflate their collapsable dinghies and switch on their radios to Mayday frequency.

Most of the helicopters and lifeboats will be busy, but sooner or later. As the present drought has brought sharks closer to the Devon shore, they will find time soon passes trying to prevent these playful creatures from cutting their rubber dinghies in two with their dorsal fins. Survivors will only have to worry about street lights hitting them.

Of course, Devon General might decide to abandon the coast road, and use the Kingsteignton by-pass, after all, nobody else is using it, and follow the usual clay lorries.