Oldway Mansions Today 15th August 2015

[Dave]

Oldway Mansions Today 15th August 2015

As my car was in for a service and a MOT in a garage in Preston this morning, I took the opportunity to check out the current state of Oldway Mansions. From a distance the building looks ok, but when you get up close to it, you can see how much the neglect of this wonderful building is having an effect. I have been told that inside much damage as been caused due the building now leaking badly in places.

Shame on Torbay Council for the damage they have caused to Oldway Mansions, money wasted on so many rubbish ideas while Oldway was boarded up and left to rot. Oldway is the jewel in the English Riviera Crown and there is not one other building in the Bay that even comes close to it.

I had a chat with one of the security guards on duty at the site and he told me that he heard this very morning that work is now about to start on Oldway. The council had insisted that Oldway be fully repaired before a single house was built on the tennis courts, at least the council got one thing right for a change.

So it looks like Oldway is going to become a hotel, gone will be the public access to this building we have all enjoyed, but I have now come to accept if that is the only way Oldway is going to be saved, then that will be better than watch it fall down.

I was pleased to see the gardens have been maintained, but then saddened to see some of the damage caused by mindless vandals. What is wrong with the world when we do not look after such wonderful gems such as Oldway, what is wrong when money can’t be found to maintain such gems, but can be found to fill up giant pension pots for our over paid councillors.

[Dave]

'Scandal' of Paignton's Oldway Mansion
By Herald Express | Posted: December 02, 2015

By TINA CROWSON

THE state of Paignton's jewel in the crown Oldway Mansion — earmarked for a luxury hotel and homes scheme — has been described as a scandal.

It is 10 years since the redevelopment was first mooted by Torbay Council because it could no longer afford the upkeep of the historic buildings, modelled on the Palace of Versailles. And it is six years since the preferred developer was chosen, but there is still little sign of work starting on the houses and hotel conversion.

The council and developers, Akkeron, remain locked in talks. Now the Friends of Oldway Mansion, chaired by Paul Hawthorne, are considering making an official complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman or similar watchdog about the dilapidated state of the building. They are angry about the lack of communication from Torbay Council.

The giant doors of the mansion built by Isaac Singer have been shut since 2013 after the council offices, cafe and the register office closed.

But the interior of the mansion has appeared twice on national television this year, on both the Antiques Road Trip and the BBC drama The Coroner.

Friends' chairman Paul Hawthorne said their annual meeting was not attended by council representatives. He said although the TV publicity was good for Oldway, the deteriorating state of the buildings dominated the meeting.

"None of us could have believed that almost a decade later, the building would be closed up with no repairs of any note carried out. The plight of the mansion and outbuildings has become a scandal everyone should be aware of.

"Throughout all this time the Friends have engaged with a process we hoped represented our best hope for Oldway. Members were angry about the total lack of updates and communication in the last six months. This is notably the first annual meeting where Torbay Council could not attend."

He added: "When the group was formed in 2007 Oldway was fully occupied, and was still the second most popular place in the UK to get married. It had a thriving café open daily and thousands of visitors and residents came to marvel at the great staircase.

"This jewel has been unceremoniously wrenched away from the community. Restoring the building to us all must now be the priority of all parties."

The Friends voted to approach the Local Government Ombudsman or similar watchdog stating concerns regarding how the fate of the Oldway estate is being managed.

Mr Hawthorne said this year's meeting was marked by a sharp shift in the mood of the membership.

A spokesman for Torbay Council said: "We are unable to comment on this issue at the moment."

[Dave]

First stage in £8m court wrangle over Oldway Mansion

LEGAL teams representing Torbay Council and the developers of Oldway Mansion in Paignton have met in court to contest an £8million claim for damages caused by delays in the multi-million pound building project.The claim has been brought by Oldway Mansion Ltd against Torbay Council.

The two sides met at the county court in Bristol last week in the first stage of the damages proceedings. The actual detail of what was discussed has not been made public.

A Torbay Council spokesman said: "It was an application hearing relating to the issue of costs. Proceedings are still ongoing and it would be inappropriate to make any further comments at this stage."

Oldway Mansion Ltd, a company set up by the Akkeron Group, says the action has been taken because it still wants to start its proposed housing and four-star luxury hotel development at the historic Paignton estate.

The council denies the allegations and has previously said it will 'robustly' defend its position. Akkeron took on plans to develop Oldway from Urban Splash in August 2010 and signed a binding contract in September 2012.

There have been no signs of any progress on the scheme to build houses in the grounds and convert the mansion and outbuildings into a luxury hotel.

The company has previously issued a statement to say it seeks 'to draw down leases on Oldway and commence the regeneration of the mansion and its conversion into a four-star hotel'.

"It also seeks, among other things, damages for delay, damages for alleged breaches of the agreement, including preventing the company from performing certain maintenance obligations, interest and costs."

[Dave]

Developers pull out of Oldway Mansion project

So this sorry mess started over eight years ago and during that time Oldway was closed up and left to rot. The repair bill now will be much more than it was before our wonderful council decided to let a property company take it over with plans to turn it into a hotel with half the grounds full of houses.

This building belongs to the people of Torbay and it now needs to be repaired and opened up once again for us to enjoy. The building and the grounds have been saved as far as I’m concerned and lets hope the friends of Oldway can come up with a real plan to protect this wonderful building for us and future generations to enjoy. Below is the article from today’s local paper.


THE Oldway Mansion developers have pulled out, it was confirmed today.

In a joint statement, Oldway Mansion Ltd, set up by James Brent's Akkeron Group to convert the mansion into a luxury hotel and build houses in its grounds, say they want to update residents.

It comes after Oldway Mansion Ltd lodged a claim for £8million from Torbay Council in Bristol County Court over the long drawn out regeneration project which was first launched some eight years ago.

The statement reads: "Whilst the parties have not been able to reach agreement on the specifics of the dispute, they are agreed that it is time to put differences aside for the benefit of the Mansion.

"The parties have therefore agreed to end the current court proceedings and terminate the development agreement.

"Although it has been agreed not to discuss the termination arrangements in any further detail, both parties wish to confirm that the development agreement premium, in addition to the deposit, was paid in full to the council by Oldway Mansion Ltd to be used for the benefit of the Mansion, that no compensation was paid by either party, and that the survey and environmental information procured by Oldway Mansion Ltd using the capital receipt from the sale of Fernham is being provided to the council for future use.

"The council confirms that the proceeds from the sale of Fernham have been used for purposes connected with the proposed development of the Mansion. There will be no other comment from the parties in respect of the settlement agreement.

"The council will now work hard to develop an alternative solution which ensures the long term protection of the Oldway Estate and Mansion, and will shortly engage with the local community and relevant partners in this.

[Dave]

Weddings, banquets, events and an exhibition featuring Paignton's most famous family could feature in the future of Oldway Mansion. Campaigners battling to prevent the historic building being sold off to the highest bidder have revealed their own plans for its future. The group wants more time to prepare its detailed proposals for the future of the building, modelled on Versailles and built in the 19th Century for the wealthy Singer sewing machine family, after whom many Paignton roads are named.

Torbay Mayor Gordon Oliver has told them to have their plans ready by September 1, or the building goes under the hammer to raise funds for the cash-strapped council. The feasibility study has been delayed, and there have been angry exchanges between the campaigners and the council.

Today a joint statement from the Friends of Oldway Mansion, the Torbay Civic Society and the Paignton Heritage Society sets out why they need more time to complete the feasibility study.

They say Oldway's assets for the future could include:

Wedding facilities
Banquet rooms
Events space
Pop-up cafe
Singer family and business exhibition
Business use
Social Enterprise
Gardens


The statement added: "We have the opportunity now to solve the challenge of Oldway as should have been done originally in 2007. A feasibility study needs to be commissioned by external experts in the regeneration and restoration of large listed buildings and estates – so that we have the best possible insight into how Oldway can be restored and made financially self-sufficient for the future.

"Such a study will look at the range of possible uses that Oldway can house, while delivering value for the community of Torbay and celebrating the wonderful heritage that it represents. The great advantage we have now is that the situation has changed considerably since 2007/8, and expert opinion suggests there is no need for further housing in the grounds to fund restoration – this can and should be grant funded as part of a successful scheme instead.



"In finding a solution for buildings such as Oldway we need to start by going back to what the building did well before and do it better. Weddings would be a natural part of the future business plan, with banqueting and other services provided that Oldway did not offer previously.

"It is hoped also public access to the mansion can be restored in the short term as soon as practical. People are quite rightly desperate to get back into Oldway and they should have access restored.

"For the first time in 10 years we are on the right path to finally getting back an Oldway that will pay for its restoration and its upkeep whilst remaining a key community asset benefitting all of us. All we need to do this is the reasonable time to complete the Review Committee's work, and it is this which currently is being threatened with a proposal instead that it be sold at auction in the autumn."

The campaigners say that while Oldway may have not been formally gifted to the town by the Singers, 71 years of public service make it an asset of high community value. They add: "The Singers wanted the building to be at the heart of the community and said so clearly when they handed it over in 1946. It should, they said, be a civic centre for Paignton as Paris Singer had wished. This building belongs to all of us and we have the right to see every possible attempt made for us to keep control of it, and to ensure what happens there benefits all of the community, whilst of course ensuring it is financially independent of the tax-payer.

"Now is the time for the Mayor to support the Review Committee's work at every stage. We will all win with a restored Oldway once more drawing visitors in from far and wide, and being a stage on which so many priceless memories are created. This will deliver the regeneration we all seek, and restore strength and pride in our towns.

No one has the moral right to sell Oldway at auction and deprive the community of its jewel in the crown for ever more. To do so now at a time when a solution is finally within reach would be an act against Torbay. There is, however, a moral duty to allow the work of the Review Committee to run its course, and aid it to pursue a viable community-serving use where at all possible."

Civic Society chairman Ian Handford added: "There is no doubt that the working party will need more time. The Mayor has got to be patient, this is not something you can rush."