Dave Thomas: What's happening with Torquay Pavilion?

On Tuesday night, we held our Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Public Engagement Event at the Princess Theatre in Torquay, and it was fantastic to see so many people attend. If you couldn’t make it - don’t worry! This was just the first of many engagement events on this important topic.

During the event, we outlined the potential options available to the Council moving forward and discussed how each could impact the Bay, both positively and negatively. Attendees also had the opportunity to ask me questions, and I hope we were able to provide clear and detailed answers based on the information currently available. However, I fully acknowledge that there is still much work to be done, and we don’t yet have all the answers.

The feedback from Tuesday’s event, along with input from other engagement sessions with our partners and stakeholders, will be presented at the next Cabinet meeting on March 18. This meeting will be live-streamed, allowing you to watch and hear more about the feedback and the options under consideration. We are working towards submitting our recommendations to the Government by March 21.

To be clear, this is not a decision made by Torbay Council. We are presenting options for the Government to review, and ultimately, they will decide on the way forward. We expect to receive their decision before the local elections in May, which are taking place across Devon (though not in Torbay). Once a decision is made, we will have until November this year to develop a fully costed and strategic plan for implementation. While we will focus on what we can control, the outcome for Torbay will be determined by the Government.

If you missed Tuesday’s event, there’s another chance to get involved! Our next Residents’ Engagement Event is happening on Friday, March 14, where we’ll be available to answer any questions, you may have about LGR, or in fact, any other area of work that the Council is involved with. We will also be joined by members of the public health team and I am trying to arrange for you to get your blood pressure taken whilst you visit, you can find us outside Sainsbury’s at The Willows from 10am to 4pm – I look forward to seeing some of you.

Moving on, last week I visited the Torquay Pavilion as it underwent jet washing—a small but important step in our efforts to restore this historic building. As I am sure you will remember, we regained full control of the Pavilion in October 2024 after a long lease surrender negotiation. Since then, we’ve been assembling a team of heritage experts with the skills and knowledge required to assess the complexities of restoring this landmark, which has been dormant for over a decade.

Before the main restoration work begins, our contractor has been carrying out essential cleaning and maintenance to improve the site's condition. This includes jet washing the terrace and flat roof areas, removing plant growth, and clearing the concrete drainage channels at ground level. Over time, moss, debris, and detritus had accumulated, blocking some of the channels and impeding proper drainage. Clearing these materials has significantly improved water flow, helping to prevent potential flooding and ensuring rainwater can drain away efficiently.

From late March, hoarding will begin to go up around the building in phases over several weeks. This is necessary so our contractor can carry out a full structural assessment, which is expected to take up to 12 months. This assessment will provide us with detailed information on the work required and the associated costs for a full restoration.

As this work continues and to ensure we find the best long-term solution for the Pavilion, we are actively engaging with both grant funders and potential investors to explore funding opportunities and determine the most suitable future use for the building. I strongly believe there needs to be a cultural element within the building, but it is far too early to talk about the final use. Needless to say, we are committed to securing the Pavilion’s future, and I will keep you updated as this important project progresses.