Current Issues

Bideford Town Council is lobbying for the Port of Bideford to become a Trust Port. The majority of other ports large and small throughout the country already are. The Town Council is asking for your support. Documents about this are being circulated and the Forum supports this. Please consider this important change to the Port status and if so inclined to support make your views known to Bideford Town Council. More information is available on their website.

North Devon Council announced a while ago that, following new legislation, it was considering closing its three quays. These are Town Quay and Rolle Quay in the town and Fremington Quay further down the Taw. Closing these quays is an important step considering their historical significance and it will bring to an end any commercial or leisure use of the quays.

If you are interested in the future of these quays, the Council is running a public consultation from 17 October 2025 to 5 January 2026. You can respond with your views on their website here.

Taw Torridge Estuary Forum intends to respond.

In order to assist planning future meetings, the Forum is always looking for suggestions for Speakers. If members have any suggestions for speakers and/or topics which may be of interest to us please let the Secretary know.

There is a planning application (North Devon Council No 80131) for development of land near the Lake Roundabout, Barnstaple. If interested please see NDC Planning website for information and to comment. This planning application has now been refused.