Torquay’s Daddyhole Road signs taken by ‘souvenir hunters’

A road sign in Torquay has been repeatedly targeted by “souvenir hunters”, a councillor has said.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service reported that Torbay councillor Nick Bye said street signs on Daddyhole Road have disappeared and been replaced “twice in this term of office” – the last council elections were in May 2023.

The unusual name is said to come from the old Devon usage of the word ‘daddy’, as a reference to the devil, and legend says the devil lived in a cave at the base of the cliffs, formed when a chunk of limestone fell into the sea, creating the ‘daddyhole’.

The mystery of the missing signs was raised during a debate on how surplus money in the council coffers should be spent.

Councillor Darren Cowell said some of the surplus money could be spent replacing some of the bay’s damaged street signs, and Bye replied by saying some signs had been keeping him and councillor Hazel Foster busy already.

“We have first-hand experience of how well our road sign department responds,” Bye said.

“There are souvenir hunters who seem to be quite fascinated by the title of Daddyhole Road, and the sign keeps disappearing.

“Twice in this term of office we have had to get replacements.”

At a cabinet meeting, he said: “Quite why it gets taken away so frequently, who knows?”

Bye said the council was looking to refresh all of its children’s play areas, but said money was being spent on replacing the missing street signs.

“It is perhaps a slightly comical name,” he said.

“We have Daddyhole Road leading up to Daddyhole Plain.”

He added those responsible should end the “nonsense” and respect the town’s signs.