Living in Bristol we are spoilt for choice when it comes to family days out, great restaurants and long walks with stunning scenery. The only thing we're missing is our own beach, but as there are plenty to choose from just a short hop down the M5, it hardly matters.
While we can get to Weston-super-Mare, Clevedon or Sand Bay in less than an hour the Devon and Cornish coastlines are only a little further away too. You would be forgiven for saying we're spoilt for choice when it comes to days out at the seaside, but it appears we're going to have another desirable destination, less than two hours from Bristol, when we want to play in the sand and enjoy fish and chips by the sea.
The fourth largest town in Devon, long-overlooked reports Devon Live, is set to be regenerated with plans to boost tourism including a rooftop ice rink, a giant climbing wall and a massive regneration of the town centre. Yes, the seaside town of Paignton could soon become top of Bristolians' lists for a day out.
Read next: Hopefully the regneration of Paignton will be more successful than some of these choices for Bristol
As well as investing millions into the town, an old and under-used shopping centre is set to be knocked down (something Bristolians know all about with plans to demolish The Galleries and Broadwalk Shopping Centre in place) as well as pedestrianise a route from the train station to the beach.
Campaigners for the regeneration of Paignton have said if all the proposed changes go ahead it will be the best seaside resort on the South Coast. The huge changes are down to £13.6million from the Govenment's Future High Streets Fund with work set to begin this year.
Not everything is decided for the future of Paignton. There is a grassroots campaign to transform an old, disused car park, which would see an ice rink opened on its roof as well as plans to save a Victorian-era mansion, Parkfield House and its surrounding park and garden.
Do you think you would take a day trip to Paignton once it is regnerated? Let us know in the comments below.
Allen Johnson, a local campaigner said: "Paignton is not recognised. You think because it's the fourth largest town in Devon it would be up there when it comes to funding. The council has this Future High Streets Fund and instead of them looking separately at four different projects - we want them to link them together because then it will make a much bigger difference.
"We see ourselves as sitting between the council and the community - trying to direct the council when they are making these big decisions so that they take in the community's thoughts and feelings.
"If we had left them to build the sea wall we would have ended up with this huge big concrete wall along the whole of the Esplanade. Thankfully that didn't happen and the options they are looking at now are better. We think they can build an aesthetically pleasing sea wall, maybe with curves and steps and seating in it."
Read next:
Supermarket saga as residents accused of campaign of abuse over late night deliveries
The unassuming Bristol restuarant serving up Cali-Mex food and an impressive happy hour
I tried shopping at the Chinese supermarket in Bristol hidden in plain sight
The tough Bristol pub where pirates quaffed and rockers settled dispute
