Torbay Council to take back management of coast and countryside after Trust liquidation

Torbay Council has been advised that the Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust (TCCT) will formally enter liquidation this week.

The decision follows an announcement in October, when the trustees of the TCCT said they would place the charity into voluntary liquidation.

Now that formal notice has been received, the council has reached an agreement with appointed liquidators, PKF Francis Clark, to take back and resume management of all council-owned land and buildings previously leased to the Trust.

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The move is intended to secure the long-term future of these cherished spaces, ensuring they remain well cared for and accessible for residents and visitors. Torbay Council will now assume responsibility for the areas, with SWISCo handling day-to-day management of the green spaces.

Council leaders stressed that the transition will take time. Responsibility remains with the liquidators until the complex liquidation process is completed, and specific arrangements for individual sites will be confirmed as further information becomes available.

Councillor David Thomas, Leader of Torbay Council, said: "This is a significant step towards helping secure the future of Torbay’s treasured natural spaces and ensuring that they remain a source of pride and enjoyment for generations to come."

"The Trust has played an instrumental role in conserving our coast and countryside landscapes over many years. We are committed to building on this as we move forward, recognising the hard work and dedication of the Trust's staff and volunteers, and the importance of these spaces to our community."

"Our priority is making sure these spaces remain accessible and well-maintained for our communities. We will continue to work closely with SWISCo, our partners, stakeholders, and the liquidators to ensure this. I would like to thank everyone for their ongoing patience as we manage this process."

The council acknowledges that the closure of the Trust will have a wide-ranging impact and expects residents and visitors to have questions about specific spaces and services. Further information will be revealed as it becomes available.

PKF Francis Clark, the appointed liquidators, have contacted many of the Trust’s creditors, but anyone who has not received correspondence is advised to get in touch directly. There is more information about how to do this on their website: https://pkf-francisclark.co.uk/torbay-coast-and-countryside-trust/.