Facebook group rounds on Torbay Mayor Nick Bye

By PRSD, on Monday, November 10, 2008

The people have spoken, kinda, via the populist democratic tool of social networking this is, in this case, Facebook. The ‘I F**king hate Nick Bye. Mayor of Torbay‘ Facebook group has 452 members, whereas ‘Nick Bye- Mayor of Torbay appreciation society‘ has just 60, and most of these seem pretty ironic.

Last week’s political theatrics had the Tory mayor of the Torbay complaining that certain councillors were more intent on claiming their expenses than attending meetings.

But as Bay blog Progressive Politics says: “Only in Torbay could the much derided Conservative Executive mayor Nick Bye, he of the rhetorical flourishes and 60K per annum ‘allowance’, publicly question whether councillors on £8,000 a year are justifying this figure.”

And: “Add to this the sacked former Tory group leader Kevin Carroll (but still Deputy Mayor) is on £30K a year and it needs to be questioned whether this ‘leadership’ pair are ‘good value’ to the Torbay taxpayer.”

Progressive Politics has posted an unedited letter to the Herald Express on the matter.

Could it be that Bye’s shilly-shallying from Liberal to Tory got up people’s noses (he stood as Liberal candidate for Torbay in the General Election of 1987), or that he claimed the role of directly-elected mayor with fewer than seven per cent of the electorate? He was the first directly-elected Conservative when he took office on October 20, 2005. And seeing as it’s a five-and-a-half year term, those good people of Torbay only have to endure him until 2011. And we can only wonder how many people would have joined the Facebook group by then – if Facebook is still around.

Torbay Council website has some details on the role of the mayor.

posted by Cptn

• The low turn out for the mayoral election could be a protest against the role or a lack of engagement in local politics. How do you ensure local democracy works?

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Kerouac fan

How much does Nick Bye earn as Mayor of Torbay each year? My mate Len said £65,000 per year, I said £130,000 per year. There's a fiver riding on this wager, everybody I've spoken to so far tells me I've lost.

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David Short

Slimey, underhanded and downright VILE! Torbay council and It's disgusting mayor are a joke, they seem to only care about lining their own pockets at the expense of the people who live here.
I would really love to see a public art gallery in Torquay, not a flipping casino!
But would that ever happen? not with these current idiots in charge, to them culture is something that grows on a mouldy teabag!

I can't understand why the people of the bay aren't out in protest.

Have a look at the front of the town hall, there are a couple of phrases set in stone, one of which is missing the word "JUSTICE" has it been worn away over time, or has some councillor ordered it's removal?

Come on Torbay, lets get rid of these baffoons!

Michael Anderson

I have just watched the Press Conference from Torbay featuring Nick Bye. Is this guy real? He seems to have the style of a sleazy second hand car salesman. In my view, he seems to appear as someone who is in politics for a career and easy money first. A Mayor is a leader not a slick presenter of sound bites. People of Torbay...You can do and deserve better than this.

D Gibson

Bye, Lewis and Carrol. Their Screw the Motorist policy is a disgrace. It has nothing to do with parking control. It is a tax. Peoples ability to pay are of no concern to these three.They just want the revenue to waste on some hair brained scheme or another. God help business owners in Torbay.If the credit crunch doesn't get them then the monster raving loony party will.

Basil F

Nick Bye Kevin Carrol and Chris Lewis are doing their best to completely ruin Torbay they don't listen to the voters. Parking meters Rock walk Casinos are just three things why they will loose their jobs as soon as elections are held. As for the mayors vision it will never work while he has his head up his own backside

Mick Warner

One of the biggest threats from Nick Bye and his cronies is the loss of our open spaces,Nick Bye signed the growth point .That gave him pieces of silver providing he builds 15000 homes on every available space. he was a estate agent, his pompous arso of a deputy was a builder...they see an open space differently than we do where we see a mower and enjoy the smell of new cut grass they see a concrete mixer and the ''builders cleavage'' gives Nick bye the chance to glimpse an arso bigger than the one he chose as a deputy

Mr H

I also find Mr Mayor more & more iritating, you can`t turn on the radio or read a local paper without being subjected to this short sighted Elton John wanabe spouting about mayoral vision.Never mind Rock walk!What about Redgate & Ansteys cove, two lovely local people spots that have been neglected.Not viable to build a casino on no doubt.Makes you wonder who payed for the fantastic view from Warren road now the trees have gone.

Dave Taylor

I would just like to know who set the salary of Nick Bye and why? Has he proven his abilities in the past somewhere?

Why does this guy seem to be unapproachable and beyond criticism?

When will this country be lead by people that really care about us and leave corruption to the terrorists? One could say that our local shops are suffering the same fate!

DAVID MINSTER

I,just like local pub landlord Mr Brian Harris have totally lost my faith in torbay,it may be a great place to live but unless your earnings are close to nick bye's you tend to struggle to exist let alone enjoy some sort of life, of course now we have parking meters you can't even browse the shops without having to pay somthing first ,thats why local shops are quiet and most people go to super markets where they can spend hours shopping at there ease .Local shops will and are dying just like the rest of torbay cheers nick!!