Every fortnight Kevin writes a "Kev's Column" for the Torbay Weekly (Thursday 4th April 2024) and you can read the latest edition below:
TUST for TUFC
It is great to hear Torquay United Supporters Trust (TUST) is leading a consortium which has submitted a bid to buy the club.
In hopeful signs of any early end to the current period of uncertainty for Torquay United, the club has confirmed the TUST led consortium is not the only one they are talking to. Yet it is the prospect of a takeover which has fans at its heart which inevitably is exciting people and drawing parallels with Exeter City, where a supporter’s trust has owned the club for two decades.
Prior to the supporter takeover in 2003, Exeter City faced dire straits. The club grappled with a staggering £4.8 million debt and suffered from years of mismanagement, with tractors stuck in holes on their training ground symbolizing the club’s struggles. Since then, Exeter City has undergone a remarkable transformation to a club which has re-established itself in League One, built a new training facility and has focused on the development of young talent.
Fan ownership at Exeter City was not about wishful thinking. It put loyal supporters at the heart of the club, who then developed solid business plans for the long-term future. Having worked closely with TUST over recent years there is no reason the same cannot happen at Torquay United.
Town Centre
A walk-through Torquay Town Centre shows its challenges and opportunities.
Jim Parker was right to say there are businesses taking a punt on starting up there, with some long-established businesses investing in revamps. Yet the presence of larger empty units in the upper part of Union Street, which have been abandoned as national chains went bust, shows the challenge.
Our Town Centres are not unique in this. You cannot replicate in any physical retail environment the ultra-convenience of smart phones where you can order something for delivery within moments of first thinking about buying it. Yet we could make them easier to use by reviewing the road and traffic layouts put in place for a different era of Town Centre shopping.
Major regeneration plans for Union Square and sites like the former New Look store, will see more emphasis on leisure, employment and new homes, than on retail. Therefore, nearby loading bays for bulky goods and convoluted one-way systems designed for busy retail traffic of the past, have become less relevant. Customers for leisure businesses need easy on street parking in the evening, rather than a loading bay.
We are all impatient to see change, especially given the large financial support package on offer from the Conservative Government, it is coming and must include all aspects of how a successful future Town Centre will work.
Surgery Times
My next surgeries are on: Friday 5th April 1pm till 3pm both at 5-7 East, Torquay, TQ2 5SD and Saturday 13th April 11am till 1pm at Preston Baptist Church, Old Torquay Road, Paignton TQ3 2RB.
Surgeries are for personal queries from residents they would like me to help them with. For an appointment you can either email me at [email protected] or leave a message on 01803 214989. There are also drop-in sessions at my office 5-7 East St, Torquay, TQ2 5SD between 10am & 1pm Monday to Friday where a member of my team will be available to help with any queries.
