Torquay's £20million Pride in Place funding attracts 'plethora' of bright ideas

An appeal for bright ideas on how to spend £20million in government cash in Torquay has thrown up ‘a plethora’ of ideas.

But now the hard work has begun of whittling down the wish-list to a final selection to go forward to the government for approval.

“It’s a brilliant problem to have, when the community comes up with more than 60 schemes and we have to whittle them down to 30,” said Jim Parker, chairman of the Torquay Place Leadership Board. “That’s sensational.”

And he reassured board members that the selections would be made without bias or politics after fears were raised.

Board member Alan Tilley said there was a ‘disconnect’ between local community groups and those making the choices

.“Torquay needs the money, but I don’t feel that some of the projects are really targeted at the grassroots,” he said. “We will have people saying it’s the same old people getting the same old money, and I would stand with them.

"And if you look at some organisations that have put things forward and then look at the outcomes for the bay, in some of those projects that has been quite minimal.”

The money is coming from what the government now calls its ‘Pride In Place’ fund, and will be spent over the next 10 years.  A separate pot of money is being made available for Paignton.

The Torquay wishlist includes such diverse projects as a homeless hostel, town centre improvements and a major arts festival.

Some of the projects are being put forward by Torbay Council, although the place leadership board is not a committee of councillors.

Tracey Cabache, of the Torbay Community Development, Trust said the ‘plethora’ of ideas had come after a series of workshops, and many of them could be combined into collaborations. And, she said, the board could work with applicants whose ideas had not made the shortlist to find other ways of funding them.

Torquay United’s co-chairman Michael Westcott said it could be better to focus on two or three issues rather than ‘throw the kitchen sink’ and spread the money too thinly.

The meeting heard that the current ‘long shortlist’ of schemes was a starting point, and there would be an opportunity for new proposals to come forward.

But, said Mr Parker: “We need to move forward quickly and prioritise those projects that can be delivered, that can give value for money and can benefit our grassroots communities.”

Torbay Council’s chief executive Anne-Marie Bond told the meeting: “There isn’t the money to do everything. There never is.

“Tough decisions need to be made.”

The projects under the heading ‘Physically improving our town centre (including crime) are: Business-Led Town Centre Improvements; Connecting Places – Public Realm Activation and Strand Redevelopment.Collaboration will be explored between a Royal Lyceum Theatre Revitalisation; Homeless Hostel; Community Health and Harm-Reduction Hub; St Mary Magdalene Church Community Provision; Town Centre Drop-In for Disabled and Vulnerable People and a Support and Wellbeing Hub. There could also be collaborations between Hidden High Street Creative Space; Capacity Building Using Heritage Assets; Festival of Torquay 2027 and Higher Union Street Regeneration.

Under the heading ‘Physically improving our neighbourhoods (including crime and affordable housing)’ there could be collaboration between Ellacombe Community Multi-Use Facility; Melville Community Hub; Barton Downs & Acorn Centre Reinvention; Barton Recreation Ground Community Hub; Windmill Centre and Windmill Hill; Hele Village Community Clean-Up; Development of Upton Park; Community Info Bus; Sponsor a Path; Transforming play spaces; Steps Cross Redevelopment; Home downsizing – freeing up family homes and Support to access affordable housing.Work and skills projects are Continuation of Focus Forward – Mentoring Initiative; Children’s Society Wellbeing Hub; Creative and Cultural Space for Young People; Torbay Creative Exchange.