Every fortnight Kevin writes a "Kev's Column" for the Herald Express and you can read the latest edition (Published on Wednesday 7th June 2023) below:
Oldway
A consultation on the future for Oldway Mansion is underway.
With the likely costs of restoring Oldway having escalated over recent years, a key part of any plan for its future will be identifying an end user and being realistic about the significant level of funds necessary to restore the Mansion. The level of these costs being the reason why groups like the National Trust do not want to be given it and a purely commercial development option is a non-starter as well. It is also highly unlikely any funding source, including the National Lottery would fund it all in one go, given the scale the costs have now reached.
The team working on Oldway Mansion should look to follow the inspirational model of the Paignton Picture House Trust. There a committed team of volunteers and experts, working to deliver a credible long-term plan, are reviving this historic gem, having secured funding from several sources, including over £4m of Government funding.
I look forward to meeting the project team and talking about their thoughts. After a decade of party-political point scoring, media rows and petitions, what Oldway Mansion needs now is a credible long-term plan both for renovation work and how to fund its ongoing maintenance. Something I look forward to working with the new Conservative team running Torbay Council to achieve.
Torquay Asylum Hotel
Late last year the Home Office started using two hotels in our bay to house those who have claimed asylum.
Whilst a third was proposed, receiving significant media coverage, it was never used by the Home Office.
Earlier this year the Home Office unveiled a new plan for larger accommodation centres for those claiming asylum, plus floating accommodation barges, to end the use of hotels. At the time I indicated to Ministers the proposals were welcome, but the proof it was working would be if hotels being used in locations like our bay were closed.
Last week I was advised the hotel being used by the Home Office in Torquay will be vacated later this month. I continue to push for a date when the one in Paignton will also be vacated.
Palace Hotel
Last week the Fragrance Group held a public exhibition about its latest plans for the Palace Hotel site.
Their new plans propose building 67 homes on the former hotel site, rather than proceeding with the previous approved plan to build a major new hotel. Torbay needs more affordable housing, yet it only takes a walk through Torquay Town Centre to see opportunities for development of new homes on derelict sites. These should be the priority before releasing a unique site like this for a lucrative housing development.
Surgery Times
My next surgeries are on: Saturday 10th June 11am till 1pm at The Acorn Centre, Lummaton Cross, Torquay, TQ2 8ET and Friday 16th June 10am till 12Noon at 5-7 East St, Torquay, TQ2 5SD
For an appointment you can either email me at [email protected] or leave a message on 01803 214989, surgeries are for personal queries from residents they would like me to help them with. There are also drop-in sessions from 10am till 1pm, Monday to Friday at 5-7 East St, Torquay, TQ2 5SD where a member of my team is available to assist residents with urgent queries.
