Torquay Pavillons could be moved onto an island in £40m development

A £40 million plan to move Torquay pavilions onto an Island in the middle of the town inner harbour has received some criticism from locals.

The ambitious plan has been floated as an alternative to a luxury hotel development expected to submit for planning permission shortly before Christmas.

The plans have been drawn up by residents supported by Mark Hoyle, Brian Lewis and Julie Brandon from Torquay Town Centre Community Partnership.

The residents suggest constructing an island and then using a crane to move the pavilion onto it.

However the need to drain the inner harbour during construction has upset many of the local harbour users.

Marshall Ritchie, chairman of the local Harbour users likened plans to putting a wardrobe in a bathtub and stated an intention to oppose any plans that would affect the inner harbour.

Currently the plans are still in a very early stage with no indication of when plans would reach a formal stage.