£20 million to breath new life into Torquay - and YOU can decide how and where

Residents in Torquay being given the chance to help change the fortunes of the town - as well as the lives of the people who live there.

A £20million pot of funding has been awarded by the government to restore pride in Torquay over the next decade.

Community groups and the residents themselves are being invited to come forward with ideas and projects to help regenerate the town, especially in its deprived areas, with the money financing initiatives at £2million a year for the next 10 years.

The ‘once in a generation’ funding is part of the Government's Plan for Neighbourhoods scheme and was awarded to Torquay because of its high levels of deprivation. Torquay is the only town in the entire South West to have received the funding.

Now Torbay Communities, on behalf of the Torquay Place Leadership Board who are responsible for the funding, want to hear from people with ideas for specific projects.

They are also reaching out to residents across Torquay to get a flavour of what things they would like to see change for the better. Torbay Communities will be attending community groups and events throughout the summer as part of a big engagement programme

Three quarters of the funds must be spent on building or improving facilities. One quarter will go on services or activities. 

The newly formed Torquay Place Leadership Board is made up of community members, statutory members, businesses, and education representatives and are responsible for bringing views together.

They will review the feedback and ideas and will develop a plan – initially for the first four years. The board will ‘follow the data’ to try to prioritise schemes that will bring the most benefit to people in Torquay and are meeting in early September to look at initial ideas – and to work up plans into a formal business case to be submitted to government by the end of November. 

There is support being put in place from Torbay Communities for groups that have good ideas but are unsure how to turn them into a case for change. 

Jim Parker, Chairman of Torbay and Torquay Place Leadership Boards said: "This funding has the potential to change some of the things holding people in Torquay back. We want to make Torquay a thriving place with vibrant neighbourhoods and a welcoming active town centre, building on the improvements that have already taken place.”

He added: "The plan needs to bring people together so we can feel proud of our area and safe in our streets. This funding is aimed at schemes that will improve the quality of life in neighbourhoods all across Torquay and not just our town centres and housing. That’s why it’s so important the community and people decide.”

He emphasised: "These are projects driven by the community for the community, powered by our people to enhance the lives of all residents, especially those who live in deprived areas. They are not decided by the Council. We must embrace this once-in-a-generation funding opportunity with open arms. It has real potential to make lasting change, so let’s make it count.”

The money can be spent on physical improvements in Torquay, including:

• Improving neighbourhoods
• Improving the town centre 
• Housing

Or it can be spent on other areas including:

• Arts, culture and heritage
• Crime and safety
• Transport
• Education and opportunity
• Work and skills
• Health
• Wellbeing and sport

The questionnaire to submit feedback and the Proposal Form are available online at www.torbaycommunities.com/making-a-future-plan-for-torquay/. Paper copies of both forms will be available at Torquay Library from Monday 11 August. 

Full details can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/collections/plan-for-neighbourhoods