The supporters of the Torbay Link Road would have you believe that the future prosperity of Torbay, and the welfare of the residents of Kingskerswell, depend on its implementation as the lack of a dual carriageway into Torquay is stifling inward investment to the area.

The largest single inward investment to the area was made by Nortel when it increased its workforce to over 5000 people in their Opto-Electronics division and built a brand new complex for their Fixed Wireless Access Division (Nortel House in Long Road). Instead of bringing prosperity to the region Nortel have dashed the hopes of thousands of people who had pinned their hopes on a long career with the company. This was caused by global economics and a down turn in demand for their products, not the lack of any dual carriageway link road.

What the developers really want is to get their hands on the present green-field land that would find itself marooned between the old and new roads. With its back to the sea Torquay can only expand towards Newton Abbot but is thwarted at the moment by lack of development land. With the construction of this road, existing green-field land would suddenly become prime development land, which would allow a pincer movement from both the Newton Abbot and Torquay directions and herald the destruction of Kingskerswell.
Any one in doubt need only take a look at the hideous Combined Linen Services facility at Decoy and the proposed industrial development at Edginswell to get a taste of what is to come.