Paignton monastery campaigners pledge ‘it’s not over’ despite rebuff

A campaign to turn a former monastery in Paignton into a community centre looks likely to end in disappointment next week (November 18).

Councillors in the Clifton with Maidenway ward had lobbied for a community use to be found for the empty building, which was once home to a community of monks, but Torbay Council wants to sell it off instead.
Now a report to a meeting of the cabinet committee says the building should not be listed as an asset of community value, and neither should The Edge in Brixham.
The Edge is a privately-owned former church building which is owned by the Brixham Youth Enquiry Service and currently hosts a food bank as well as a range of community activities.
The aim of such a listing is to make sure the community gets first refusal in any sell-off.
However, at the same meeting Torquay United’s Plainmoor stadium WILL be recommended for a similar listing.
On the subject of the monastery, Liberal Democrat ward councillor Cat Johns said: “It’s sad news. It’s 1-0 to Torbay Council but it’s not over!
“Thank you to everyone involved with the project – you have all been amazing – and we will search other avenues to make sure that the people of Clifton with Maidenway have their own place in the monastery which they deserve.”
The council says The Edge and the monastery do not meet the criteria to be listed, while the football stadium does.
The monastery is owned by the council, which decided to sell it as long ago as 2019. Officers say there is no current use by the community, and has not been since 2017. They also say it would take at least five years to restore it to a usable condition.
However, there is nothing to stop a community group making an offer to buy it on the open market.
The Edge building is currently subject to insolvency proceedings and is being marketed. With administrators legally obliged to secure the best price, it may end up being sold without any community obligations. Officers say there is doubt over its future, which means it cannot be listed.
Plainmoor is already listed as an asset of community value, and the application going to the cabinet is to re-list it for another five years.
The report to the meetings says the stadium is a focal point for the community, contributes to the ‘vibrancy’ of Torquay and benefits local businesses.
It goes on: “The nomination reflects strong public support and demonstrates that residents value the stadium as a community asset.”
The application to list Plainmoor has come from the Torquay United Supporters Trust.