Where Torbay’s community fund money went

£90,000 is up for grabs across the bay

New murals, a Christmas street party and a set of high-visibility jackets are among a lengthy ‘shopping list’ of items funded by Torbay councillors this year.

Each of the council’s 36 members gets an allowance of £2,500 to be spent on community projects in their individual wards.

That means a total of £90,000 up for grabs across the bay.

The council says the money can help with replacing, repairing, and improving council and community-owned assets including bins, benches, street signs, fencing, play equipment and community noticeboards.

A list of the latest grants has just been published.

Wellswood – Cllrs Nick Bye (Con) and Hazel Foster (Con): Wellswood Community Partnership to support their Christmas Street Party at Ilsham Road, Wellswood, £1,500; Warberry Primary School for a wooden shelter over the fire pit so space can be used regardless of weather, £1,500; Austin Hawkins as a contribution to new plants for a small public flower garden, £50; information noticeboards on Torquay harbour, £200; towards the cost of paint and materials for decorative murals at the shelter at Walls Hill Down, £125. 

Tormohun – Cllr Mandy Darling (Lib Dem), Cllr Cordelia Law (Lib Dem) and Cllr Nick Pentney (Lib Dem): Contribution towards a community noticeboard on Belgrave Road, £400; to Orchard Forest School for an Easter event for Young Carers, £150; towards Torre and Upton Community Partnership for Christmas Lights, £1,200; towards informational noticeboards at Torquay harbourside, £300; commissioning a mural on the shelter in King’s Gardens, £250

St Peters with St Marys – Cllr Anna Tolchard (Con) and Cllr Steve Bryant (Con): Contribution towards refurbishment of the theatre seats at Brixham Theatre, £1,200; to support the Men’s Shed support group with rent, £1,000; contribution to Play Torbay to support holiday activities for children with autism, £1,000; contribution towards maintenance of Heritage trailer at the Pilgrim Heritage Sailing Foundation, £1,000; donation towards the community lunches provided by the Brixham Baptist Church, £250; contribution towards the refurbishment of the railings in Churchill Gardens, Brixham, £2,000.

Preston – Cllr Barbara Lewis (Con), Cllr Chris Lewis (Con) and Cllr David Thomas (Con): For the erection and maintenance of a community noticeboard by Preston Baptist Church, £2,400; High visibility jackets for Preston community volunteers, £108.

Kings Ash – Cllr Jackie Thomas (Con) and Cllr Yvonne Twelves (Con): To Mane Events for a half term children’s play equipment hire, £420. 

Goodrington with Roselands – Cllr John Fellows (Con) and Cllr Hayley Tranter (Con): refurbishment of the Goodrington South toilet block, £1,201; grant to Goodrington, Roselands, and Hookhills Community Partnership, £800; contribution towards the costs of the boarding up of the Spanish Arches at Goodrington Park, £900; Hayes School Grow Wild project for ecological conservation and education, £350.

Furzeham with Summercombe – Cllr Andrew Strang (Con), Cllr Jason Hutchings (Ind) and Cllr Hannah Stevens (Con): contribution towards the costs of the Brixham Pirate Festival, £1,500; grant towards Brixham Brownies, £500; grant towards the Brixham Male Orpheus Choir, £500; contribution towards the refurbishment of the railings in Churchill Gardens, Brixham, £3,000; grant towards Brixham Rugby Football club to help fund a tour, and their 150th year celebration event, £1,000; grant towards Brixham Football Club to enhance their changing facilities, £500; grant towards the Brixham Baptist Church to replace parts of their well-used kitchen, £500.

Collaton St Mary – Cllr Martin Brook (Con): funds towards replacement of barbed wire fencing that has become worn, £1,000.

Barton with Watcombe – Cllr Steve Darling (Lib Dem), Cllr Mike Fox (Lib Dem), and Cllr Swithin Long (Lib Dem): contribution to reimburse the Christmas Day Community Cooking programme, £150; for rent to assist the setting up a Local Bereavement Group, £1,200; Willows Coffee and Carvery group for Christmas events, £200

Previous rounds of grants in other wards were published earlier this year.