'Third party' holds up Torquay Pavilion rescue

Deal had been due three weeks ago

A rescue mission for one of Torbay’s best-loved buildings has been held up again.

Torbay Council had been due to take back control of the Pavilion on Torquay harbourside last month, but almost three weeks on the deal has still not been done.

An un-named ‘third party’ is behind the latest hold-up.

The former theatre, skating rink and shopping centre is still in the possession of leaseholders MDL Marinas, whose deal ran until 2084.

But amid public concern over the deterioration of the building, the council moved to take back the lease and begin work towards repairing and restoring it.

Earlier this year the council pledged to ‘deliver’ on its promise to rescue the Pavilion, but it has so far been thwarted.

At the beginning of this month, council deputy leader Cllr Chris Lewis (Con, Preston) admitted that the deal was ‘on a knife edge’ after last-minute changes. Legal experts had been asked to look again at the deal.

Campaigners trying to speed up the rescue of the Pavilion were dismayed by the delay, having threatened the council with legal action if now falls into more decay and disrepair.

They also warn that vandalism has left the building vulnerable to intruders. The fear of an arson attack also hangs over the Pavilion.

MDL said the handover had been more complex than anticipated, and a ‘short extension’ would be needed to finalise legal matters.

Now Torbay Council has put out a fresh statement. It says: “Earlier this year we said that an agreement had been reached with MDL.

“At the very end of September the council needed to consider very carefully some proposed changes to the agreement to ensure that they were in the best interest of the bay and the restoration of the Pavilion.

“We have now agreed terms with MDL. However we cannot complete the surrender of the lease as MDL are reliant on a third party.  We are continuing to press for completion as soon as possible.”