JIM PARKER: You have to fear for the future of Oldway (and elsewhere) as we await Plan B

Left empty and derelict for too many years, it is now literally crumbling and in danger of falling to the ground.
Am I exaggerating? Sadly not. Proof of the sad pudding came in the past few days as scaffolding appeared around parts of what was once the palatial home of the famous Singer sewing machine family. Scaffolding not to signal the start of a long-awaited, new beginning for the mansion, but to enable safety work to stop parts of the building falling on people's heads as they passed by.
How very sad and heartbreaking.
Torbay Council revealed it was 'taking extraordinary measures' to keep the local community safe after the condition of the East Tower at the Paignton mansion reached a critical point.

A recent assessment of the condition of the building deemed it to becoming dangerous with specialist teams and officers considering the best course of action, not only to protect and preserve the history of the Tower, but the overall health and safety of the local community.

It means part of the mansion's East Tower is being removed. Structural Engineers, along with Health and Safety officers will be at the site and will make any additional height reduction decisions should they be required.

Specialist contractors together with heritage and conservation experts have started to carefully deconstruct part of the tower.

The council says: "As work got underway, which included numbering bricks and removing the parapet from the top of the Tower, contractors had to stop work after concerns were raised about the rapidly deteriorating condition of the structure.

"As pieces of the building were removed, almost all the parapet columns failed or broke when moved. Due to changing pressures within the structure, bricks also began to fall along with other loose material.

"On this basis, work was stopped as Structural Engineers and Health and Safety specialists were called to the site to undertake an emergency assessment of the building.

"With little lateral support inside the Tower, which could mean the structure collapses in on itself, putting nearby structures and neighbouring properties at risk, immediate remedial action is required. This unfortunately means that the decision had to be made to reduce the height of the East Tower. Contractors will endeavour to save and store as much of the original brickwork as possible for reinstallation or use at a later date."

Chris Lewis, Cabinet Member for Place Services and Economic Growth, said: “This course of action is not one we wanted to take. We were hopeful that the deconstruction works that started earlier in the week would be enough to remove the immediate risk and preserve the Tower.

“We are keeping key partners informed of the situation and re-assuring them of our commitment to finding a solution that restores the entire Oldway site.

“We know that Oldway is an important much-loved community asset. The recent ‘Developing a Resilient Future for Oldway’ consultation showed strong support for the emerging vision and proposals, which include restoring Oldway Mansion and gardens and preserving its history and heritage. We will be considering the recommendations of the consultation report in our November Cabinet meeting."
Torbay MP Kevin Foster visited the site and said: "This latest news again brings home the need to identify a long-term plan and sustainable funding streams for Oldway Mansion and its surrounding buildings. Claims earlier this year that a single lottery bid would deliver all the funding required were unrealistic, especially as the overall bill was estimated to have hit £30 million. Similarly, a long claimed 'Plan B' for Oldway did not materialise.
"The council's cabinet is due to discuss a detailed report on the recent consultation exercise in November, with a view to identifying a way forward. I have already offered the support I can in working with Government to find a mixture of funding to do so, especially via the new levelling up partnership."
He added: "The Paignton Picture House, after two decades of being closed, is an inspiring example of what can be done where a group of volunteers, Torbay Council and experts dedicated to its heritage develop a realistic business plan and secure funding from several sources, including over £4 million from Government. It is now set to be fully open within the next two years, with the frontage having already been restored. A similar approach is needed at Oldway."
I have no intention of getting involved in politic here. In the cold light of the day, one of the Bay's what should be much-cherished buildings has been allowed to fall down.
Just a few month ago I attended a conference in Coventry. It was in an historic building which was once home to the city's newspaper. Its future was saved by the public, private and community sectors coming together and transforming it into a luxury spa hotel/conference facilities and student accommodation
If Coventry can do why can't we? And the same goes for the Pavilion! Or are we still going to wait for that infamous Plan B?