One thing that I've noticed over the past four or five years has been the proliferation of warning and prohibition signs, the numerous metal rails and wires that serve a questionable purpose and a reduction in footfall.
Perhaps this is all part of our claim culture where frivolous litigation seems to have thrust fear into the soul of Torbay Council. I don't know. What I do know is that the end of the harbour wall that used to provide an excellent launching pad into the sea on a warm summer day now has a warning sign and a notice that says 'no diving or jumping from this quay'. We used to wait for a big sea and then run to the end of the wall before jumping high in the air and splashing into the churning sea. Years ago there was a ladder at the end of the quay and we would time to waves to grab a rung near the top! This was living the life and sent a tingle through your whole body. Loved it.
If you take a look at the photograph you will notice a pole with steel wires. This device is to stop folk fishing from the harbour wall! What? Yes it is true, there is no fishing from the harbour wall out to sea. To quote Mike Cornish (a harbour resident) "My grandfather taught me to fish off the harbour, my father fished there also and I taught my kids to fish there too!" Note also the lifebuoy to the right. Quite how you throw that through the wire is a mystery!
We have, as you can see, found another use for the wire!
Perhaps in the hope of encouraging footfall we can have a harbour wall jumping festival where folk head into the salty sea dressed as cartoon characters. Hmm.
