oldway update

The local are getting restless


CIVIC SOCIETY: What is the delay with multi-million pound Oldway Mansion work

THE public has a right to know what is holding up the multi-million pound Oldway Mansion hotel and houses project, says the chairman of Torbay Civic Society, Ian Handford (pictured).



[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I'm shocked, there is one (critical) comment thus far, and The Torquay Herald has allowed it to stay for one and a half hours!

PatDunne wrote:

I'm shocked, there is one (critical) comment thus far, and The Torquay Herald has allowed it to stay for one and a half hours!

Two good comments still on thread

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]


Oldway House & GardensDate: 13th November 2014

Support the Proposal

Having been part of the Torbay Council Working Party concerning this redevelopment the Society were in favour of the final plans which have now been passed by Torbay Council. The retirement flats built by McCarthy and Stone are nearing completion but the start date for development of Oldway Mansion and the other housing is not yet known. This is of great concern to the Society.

How much cash so far has the local council paid the developer?

More good news for Brent,

People queue to sign petition to keep Oldway Mansion open for the public



PETITION to keep Oldway Mansion open for the public is gathering support.

People queued up in the street in Paignton town centre to sign the petition on Saturday

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders, who was out with fellow Liberal Democrats gathering signatures for the petition, said: "People were just queuing up to sign it. There is a lot of support for this campaign absolutely.

He said the petition had been running for a couple of months and had been very well supported with now more than 1,000 signatures collecte

Torbay Liberal Democrats  launched the campaign to retain the Oldway Estate and Oldway Mansion in community ownership for the benefit of residents and visitors alike.

The Party is calling on the Mayor to allow a Community Trust to take over responsibility for the estate using funds from the sale of Fernham House and woods in the grounds that could be used to fund or match-fund grants from external sources.

Torbay party Chairman Swithin Long said: "In the beginning the public were not consulted over whether the estate should remain in public ownership, just which of two developers should turn the mansion into a luxury hotel and build houses in the grounds. Neither of those companies are the current developer and there has been no further consultation.

"It's time the Mayor put his trust in the people of Torbay rather than private developers and let the local community manage the future of one of the Bay's Jewels."

Among those signing the petition on Saturday was former Oldway caretaker Terry Clifford.

Petition forms can be obtained from Torbay Liberal Democrats on 01803 411816.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

We heard this before

With no firm date yet agreed and with no 'Plan B' on the horizon, Mr Handford is suggesting an independent arbitrator should be brought in to speed up matters.

"In hindsight, perhaps it would have been better if the public rooms and council offices had remained in use at Oldway, as has occurred with the tennis courts.

"The lack of information is not helping the project's supporting agencies and is unsettling and if no firm commitment is achievable, then the sooner Torbay Council and its officers start to think seriously about a Plan B, the better for all concerned."



Directors and Secretaries

OLDWAY MANSION LIMITED is run by 1 director. Mr Brent. Urban Splash pull out in November 2010
Directory and secretary details are extracted from Annual Returns submitted to Companies House. The latest Annual Return for OLDWAY MANSION LIMITED was filed for the period up to 31/12/2013.

On line petition, to save Oldway from Brent



[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Plan B(rent).

Brent down turn request to help in the repairs

Quote

'Our decaying Oldway Mansion is pitiful' say Friends group

The council spokesman said: “We continually monitor Oldway Mansion and make essential repairs when necessary to ensure that the building is wind and water tight. There is an ongoing investigation into the condition of the building and we will take the appropriate measures where needed.”

Mr Hawthorne said they understand Akkeron and Torbay Council currently share responsibility for repairs at Oldway.

He said: “Akkeron have always said they will not repair problems caused by neglect of the property. It seems that what has been done is emergency repairs caused by the pitiful state of the outbuildings. These buildings were already designated unsafe in 2007 when the project started. It appears the council have had to add emergency support to the brick wall running along Oldway Road.”


[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Same report now made it onto ## 'erald webiste ##.

'erald mods must fancy some practise

Council legal action!

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Jim the non action man, and to think some people still believe that Jim the Builder will one day build something!

sufferedsince 68 wrote:

Jim the non action man, and to think some people still believe that Jim the Builder will one day build something!

Bit unfair! Jim the builder did oversee the building of the wooden dugouts at H.P.

akagreengull wrote:

sufferedsince 68 wrote:

Jim the non action man, and to think some people still believe that Jim the Builder will one day build something!

Bit unfair! Jim the builder did oversee the building of the wooden dugouts at H.P.

Don't forget that a small amount of fencing around the car park was repaired about 18 months ago. It puts the Great Wall of China to shame.

He also had some porta cabins moved.

There is an no way anything is going to happen before 2016 if anybody wants any more info pm me

Torbay Council's £100k Oldway bill will be paid by developers



[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I might be wrong, but I think it is not his money in the account that is being used but the money that was made selling off part of the mansion park for housing and was put into a special bank account control by the council.

Mayor urged to seize 'golden opportunity' to rescue Oldway


New fund announced by the Government could be used to create a trust to rescue Paignton’s Oldway Mansion for the public.

The Government is making available a £3million Coastal Heritage Revival Fund to help kick-start the revival of at-risk coastal heritage that has potential to create opportunities for new businesses and jobs.

Grants will be used to get struggling or difficult restoration projects underway by funding initial work that will be a catalyst that attracts additional financing from the private and charitable sectors.

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders, who has lobbied hard for funding that has enhanced Torbay’s ability to obtain Lottery and other funds, has welcomed the new package of support for seaside communitie

Work to convert the historic Oldway Mansion into a private luxury four-star hotel should have started in January 2013.

On Friday the Herald Express revealed that the future of the Oldway redevelopment was in the balance after Torbay Council issued a legal notice against developers Akkeron, as it believed a number of the conditions in the development agreement had not been complied with.

If the developer fails to comply with the conditions, the council can take steps to terminate the agreement and seek damages.

Paul Hawthorne, of the Friends of Oldway, said: “The important thing in all of this is the state of the mansion and outbuildings and gardens.

"We hope that this situation between Torbay Council and Akkeron will be resolved promptly to ensure the restoration process can begin as soon as possible."

Mr Sanders wants to see Torbay Council act quickly before other areas grab a share of the new funds.

He said: “Mayor Gordon Oliver needs to get a move on and support the public who want to guarantee public access to the Oldway estate.

“This fund could get a trust off the ground that, unlike the council, can then access Lottery and other funding as well as involve volunteers and public donations to restore the mansion and keep the grounds open for local people and visitors alike.

“I would like the mayor to commit to looking seriously at setting up a trust. There needs to be a Plan B. The mayor should be making a tentative approach to the Government to see if setting up a trust is possible. This is hope if there is political will. This is an opportunity.”

Liberal Democrat mayoral candidate Dennis Brewer has warned that a ‘golden opportunity to keep one of the Bay’s best examples of its cultural heritage’ could be missed unless the elected mayor acts quickly.

He said: “With the support of Torbay’s MP and thousands of local people who have signed the Keep Oldway for the Public petition, we can keep the mansion for the community and bring life back to the building for all to enjoy



[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Surely the mention of free money must have made Brenty sit up!

Akkeron "deeply disappointed" by Torbay Council's  Oldway Mansion action

The developers who want to convert Paignton's Oldway Mansion into a luxury hotel say they are "deeply disappointed" by Torbay Council's threat of legal action.

Akkeron, who have set up Oldway Mansion Ltd, has insisted it is still working hard to get the scheme for hotel, houses, new bowling club, and spa started.

On Friday Torbay Council issued a legal notice against developers Akkeron, as it believed a number of the conditions in the development agreement had not been complied with.

If the developer fails to comply with the conditions, the council says it can take steps to terminate the agreement and seek damages.

A spokesman for Oldway Mansion Limited said: “Oldway Mansion Limited has and continues to put every effort into bringing forward the regeneration of Oldway Mansion and is deeply disappointed by this latest course of action by the Council.

“As the matter is now in the hands of solicitors, we are unable to comment further at this point save to confirm that OML firmly disputes the allegations that it has breached the development agreement.”

Meanwhile Torbay MP Adrian Sanders who lives next to Oldway Mansion has urged Mayor Gordon Oliver to bid for Government funding towards setting up a charitable trust which can access Lottery and other funding as well as involve volunteers and public donations to restore the mansion and keep the grounds open for local people and visitors alike.

Torbay council obviously don't realise just how expensive bricks are.

Torbay Council are a disgrace, I can't believe they haven't offered to prop the non-action man up with a nice juicy loan yet!