Paignton YMCA and Oldway due for renovation

A Paignton youth centre which was opened by the queen mother in 1969 is to be renovated, thanks to £180,000 worth of Torbay Council funding.

A royal motorcade sped through the town when the YMCA building at Clennon Valley officially opened in May 1969.

But, Cllr Nick Bye (Con, Wellswood) told a meeting of the council’s cabinet: “I don’t think it’s had much spent on it since!”

A report for the cabinet meeting said the YMCA would get £180,000 from the children’s services budget for special educational needs and disabilities.

The centre is described as a ‘key delivery partner’, offering specialist services for vulnerable young people. However, the service is at risk because of the poor state of the building.

The money will be spent on work to scope and design renovations and improvements, with the aim of expanding capacity and services.

Budget documents discussed by the committee also included confirmation of £7.3 million in government ‘levelling up’ funds being targeted at crumbling Oldway Mansion at Paignton before next April.

Restoration and repair work has already begun inside the historic building.

Cllr Alan Tyerman (Con, Churston with Galmpton), cabinet member for finance, said: “This is money from the levelling up fund to make Oldway secure and watertight.

“It is important to recognise that it is going to be a long haul to get it to where we want it to be, but this is a very valuable first step.”

Members of the cabinet agreed unanimously to back the move.