Torbay Weekly Rewind: Big stories from October

October brought moments of uncertainty, celebration and renewal across Torbay, as the Bay rallied behind Paignton Zoo, welcomed a royal visitor and saw work begin on restoring a seafront icon.

Paignton Zoo faced a worrying period, with financial troubles putting its future at risk. The news sparked an outpouring of public support, highlighting how much the community valued the Bay’s beloved attraction. Little did they know what was coming - and now, thanks to a takeover and fresh investment from Dutch company Libema, the zoo is secure and thriving.

The Pavilion’s iconic Mercury statues were removed for restoration as part of maintenance work on the seafront venue. The statues have long been a recognisable feature of the Bay, and their removal marked the start of a careful restoration process.

Princess Anne also visited Torbay in October. As Patron of the Wetwheels Foundation, she saw firsthand how the charity provides barrier-free access to the water for disabled and disadvantaged people. Her day in Devon also included attending British Wool’s 75th Anniversary Open Day in South Molton, visiting Landworks at Dartington Hall, Totnes, and touring Luminous Showtech in Exeter.

This is part of our Torbay Weekly Rewind series, looking back at the key stories from each month over the past year. Missed a month? Explore our other monthly rewinds here, with more to come:

• December 2024: HERE
• January: HERE
• February: HERE
• March: HERE
• April: HERE
• May: HERE
• June: HERE
• July: HERE
• August:HERE
• September:HERE