Colourful new lights for Teignmouth seafront planned by Town Council

Colourful new illuminations will soon be gracing Teignmouth seafront if a £60,000 scheme proposed by the Town Council gets the backing of County Hall

The old decorative lighting had to be removed a few years ago when the lampposts supporting them were condemned by health and safety experts at Devon County Council.

The new columns that replaced them were unable to accommodate the ‘festoon’ lights, then owned by Teignbridge District Council, and subsequent talks between the two parties failed to arrive at a solution.

It was then that Teignmouth Town Council stepped in and took the decision to pay for new illuminated panels the posts can support.

Some £60,000 was set aside in the 2025/2026 budget and designs were drawn up.

Now all that members and officers at Bitton House are waiting for are technical and planning permissions from County and the District.

‘The current designs are the motifs which you see all around Teignmouth of the fish and anchor, one of which you’ll hopefully soon see on every single one of the new columns which is about 40 in total,’ said Town Clerk Iain Wedlake.

‘The actual installation would be swift but we cannot proceed without the two permissions from Devon and Teignbridge.

‘That process has taken about four months so far and we’re hopeful that decisions will soon be made and we can appoint contractors to start work.’

Mayor Cllr Cate Williams is keen to get the illuminations replaced as soon as possible.

‘It’s seaside, it’s family-friendly and what people expect when they come to a seaside town,’ she said.

‘It’s colourful and bright, it uplifts people when they come and sit by the sea or have a stroll along the promenade.

‘Money is always tight of course but it’s how you use the money you do have that counts, and also that you explain to residents why you’re spending their council tax.

‘This will be an investment in our town’s economy and vibrancy and we’ll all reap the benefits in due course by maintaining Teignmouth’s enviable reputation as both a great place to live and visi