Around the Site

We have 165 guests online

Recent Documents

Accessibility
The MAIN TIP that we can give users with a visual impairment is to hold down the control key and use the mouse wheel to enlarge the view of the website. Our designers say that they are amazed at how few users are aware of this simple technique for magnifying a corrrectly built website.
Screen Reader

JAWS Screenreader

On of the most popular screen readers world wide is JAWS. It is now available for Windows Vista and the link below will take youto their site
>>>visit site
Windows World
Since most people use the Microsoft Product Range we have included a link to their accessibility page -
>>>GO
(a useful FREE resource for users is a cd about accessibility)
Protected by CloudFlare

We have recently added acceleration and protection to our website. If you have received a message that your computer or browser is infected with a virus or trojan or is part of a botnet and you have had to enter a security password to view our site then we HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you stop what you are doing and update all your virus security software and run a full scan of your computer!

You will have received this message because the computer you are using to view our website may be harbouring a malicious piece of software.

If you would like further information about CloudFlare please follow this link...GO>>>


Diamond Queen Jubilee

Get Ready to Party!!!

Monday 4th June 2012 will see Bideford marking the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with a civic parade along the Quay followed by a family-friendly party in the park.  The parade, led by the Youth Pipe Band, will leave the Town Hall at 3.00 pm and anyone wearing 1950s dress will be invited to become part of the procession.  To make this a safe event there will be a temporary road closure between 3.00 pm and 3.45 pm for Bideford Quay. The parade will stop at Jubilee Square for a 10 cannon salute and then continue on to the park where it will be greeted by music from the Bideford Town Band.

Following on from this, music will be provided throughout the afternoon by the ex radio one roadshow. Local groups will be providing displays and entertainment, and there will also be traditional fairground rides and food outlets with the festivities continuing until 8.00 pm.  So come along, bring a rug and a picnic, and make it a day to remember.

There are still some spare slots for groups and organisations
who would like to put on a display during the afternoon.
This can be arranged by calling Bideford Town Council: 01237 428 817

The Beautiful North Devon Town of Bideford

Welcoming Visitors for Centuries!

The maritime heritage of Bideford is well documented and is refered to in Charles Kingsleys' famous novel "Westward Ho!" and is also mentioned in Tennyson's poem "Revenge". Immortalised in the verse of Edward Capern, Bidefords' postman poet, as the 'little white town', it retains its' ability to enchant all those that visit - and the people that live here!

Generations of people have made their way here by both road and sea. Our location and people, heritage and character continue to captivate visitors and residents alike. Our website is intended to provide a 'snapshot' of Bideford today and deliver an insight into our history and provide information about our way of life - giving our townspeople and visitors an opportunity to explore the town and the surrounding area online. We hope you enjoy our site and your next visit to Bideford!

Bideford Town Council Offices

Bideford is a small port town on the estuary of the River Torridge in North Devon in the south west of England. It is the main town of the Torridge local government district. The River Torridge is spanned at Bideford by the 13th century Long Bridge, which has 24 arches all of different widths!

In the 16th century Bideford was Britain's third largest port. It was rumoured that Sir Walter Raleigh landed his first shipment of tobacco here, although this is a myth, as Raleigh was not, contrary to popular belief, the first to bring tobacco to England. Nevertheless - in honour of Raleighs' acheivements, several roads and a hill have been named after him in Bideford.

Read more...

We want to deliver your News!

If you are involved with new projects in your community, take an interest in local history or put on events that benefit the local community as a whole - we would like to hear from you!

The Town Council website is visited by a wide range of people both locally and nationally - and very often holiday makers from abroad visit the site because we provide such a wide range of information about the town and surrounding area.

We have a well organised visitors section - and we are looking to develop our history and community sections with more stories and information. If you would like to contribute please get in contact with our deputy town clerk and she will provide you with details about contributing to the site.

Support your Community today! Go...

What are our Goals?

  • To use the latest information technology to keep abreast of what our voters and parishioners are thinking about - and enable them to contact us about the issues that are important to them
  • Constantly review our services and give the best possible value for council tax payers money - and to make all our decision making processes transparent and easily accessible
  • To provide a full spectrum of documents with regard to the legally required availability of information about town council decision making
  • We are a forward looking council that encourages the participation of local people and their participation in local government and democracy.

Read more...

Bideford Town Guide

The new Town Guide can be downloaded from here as 4 separate pdfs.

Download pages 1 - 12 here
Download pages 13 - 24 here
Download pages 25 - 43 here
Download pages 44 - 48 here

Town Council NewsletterDownload the latest edition of the Town Council Newsletter - Hard copies can also be obtained from the library or the Town Hall or you can view an online version by following the link below. Also distributed through local newspapers

Download the latest newsletter

Quality Parish Council Logo

The Quality Parish and Town Council Scheme was launched in 2003 following the Government's Rural White Paper, 2000. The aim of the Scheme is to provide benchmark minimum standards for parish and town councils. The Scheme is supported by six National Stakeholders, the Commission for Rural Communities, the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Local Government Association, the National Association of Local Councils and the Society of Local Council Clerks. Open a copy of the new guidance here...