Kevin Foster: Now is the Time to take advantage of these major developments

Now Is The Time
Two significant national funding announcements and indications that a landmark deal to get work started on major regeneration projects is about to be signed by Torbay Council, made the last week a good one for our bay.
It started with the National Lottery Heritage Fund announcing Torbay will be one of nine locations to be part of their new Heritage Places initiative. This was quickly followed by the Government confirming £950,000 of extra funding to support the regeneration of Crossways, with the Arts and Heritage Minister visiting to see for himself the ongoing work at Paignton Picture House and Torre Abbey, adding to the sense Torbay is being seen as a place to invest.
The Government’s and community’s confidence had been shaken by the failure to make more progress with major projects, including those under the £21.9m Torquay Town Deal over the last three years. No government will allow money granted to an area for regeneration purposes to sit unused, so there was a growing danger of it having to be returned. Yet the change of control in May, provided an opportunity for the new Conservative Leadership of the Council to re-engage with the government, community, business and the construction sector to get several delayed schemes under way.
Torbay Council is now looking to work with a major household name to use their experience and resources to help deliver major regeneration projects. The Government’s funding being used to leverage in other investment. Torquay’s focus will be on the town centre, with a mix of new homes and businesses in and around the Union Square area off Union Street. In Paignton the emphasis will be town centre areas, including Station Square.
Now is the time to grasp this chance for change.
Anti-Social Behaviour
I met with South Devon’s Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Linden, to discuss the many points raised by business and residents about anti-social behaviour in Torquay Town Centre.
A new Neighbourhood Team focusing on Torquay Town Centre is being created and will be in place over the next month.
One issue which has been raised regularly is the number of people gathering to drink alcohol in and around Castle Circus. For many years clear rules were in place which allowed the police to prevent drinking on the street in Torquay Town Centre. Under the previous coalition administration of Torbay Council, these restrictions were altered making them much harder to enforce, so the problem returned.
Cllr Dave Thomas has now confirmed Torbay Council plans to re-instate the previous restrictions, giving the police additional powers to deal with street drinking in our Town Centre and crack down on related anti-social behaviour.
Surgery Times
My next surgeries are on: Friday October 20 10am till 11.30am at Paignton Library, Great Western Road, Paignton TQ4 5AG and Friday October 27, 3pm till 5pm at 5-7 East St, Torquay, TQ2 5SD.
Surgeries are for personal queries from residents they would like me to help them with. For an appointment you can either email me at kevin@kevinjfoster.com 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 and 1pm Monday to Friday where a member of my team will be available to help with any queries.