An Outline History of the Teignmouth Regeneration Project

Before 2002:

The regeneration movement in Teignmouth has been in existence for over a decade.  As early as 1995 the Town Centre Management Committee published its programme for improvements in its document entitled ‘Fighting Back.’  The work of that committee still continues.

For several years The Den & Promenade Working Party identified ways in which more could be done to attract visitors to the town.  This was at a time when the former Royal Hotel premises were an eyesore that detracted from the attractiveness of the area.

Teignmouth Town Councillors were very much involved in these groups.  An awareness that action was needed led to a successful application by the Council’s Decorative Lights Sub-committee for a lottery grant.  Following consultations with residents, state-of-the-art lighting decorations were erected in the main areas of the town. 

The Merging of Two Initiatives:

The scene had been set.  A working party consisting of Cllrs. R. Phillips, D. Weekes, W. Ridley (acting as Chairman of the group) and Town Clerk, Dave Tickell was asked to explore ways of consolidating the Council’s contribution to the community.  During 2000 and 2001 a variety of discussions took place with key organisations, for example the Hotel & Caterers’ Association (now South Devon Tourist Group), the Friends of Teignmouth Jazz Festival, Teignbridge District Council and the family company that owned the then closed Riviera Cinema.  Reports presented to the full Town Council in March and in April of 2001 were received favourably and all was set to expand a process of greater community involvement.  To lead the work the Council established a Quality Council Sub-committee consisting of Cllrs. Mary Purchase, Mary Strudwick and David Weekes with Cllr.  W Ridley as chairman.  

It was that stage, however, that the Council’s attention was drawn to the fact that a local community organisation which was a registered charity and was working in West Teignmouth, the Kings Meadow Community Association (KMCA), was discussing with government regional funding agencies the possibility of expanding its role to cover more parts of the town.

As a direct result of the networking previously undertaken by KMCA, an open public meeting was held on Tuesday, 29^th January, 2002, at which a representative of the South West Regional Development Agency (RDA) stated that the government recognised that many rural and coastal communities were under pressure and that a new initiative was to be launched to halt the process of community degeneration.  It was announced that KMCA had been successful in getting a grant from RDA to carry out community consultations in Teignmouth during 2002.  Support included the help of a professional consultant and the administrative and secretarial service at KMCA.

All at the meeting were pleased with the developments and a committee was established at once.  It was drawn from those who had expressed an interest or had attended the meeting.  All members of the Town Council’s Quality Council Sub-committee joined the new group. Sue Warren, the Finance Officer at KMCA, was elected Chairman. 

‘Future Views’ Consultation in 2002 Followed by Delay in 2003:

By November 2002 there had been a vast number of ‘theme meetings’ and a report, ‘Future Views,’ was prepared.  The report received universal approval when it was officially launched at a public meeting held in the London Hotel on Tuesday, 28^th January, 2003.  It was at that meeting that Sue Warren handed over the chairmanship of the group to Cllr. W. Ridley.

W. Ridley’s term of office as a Town Councillor ended on local election day, Thursday, 1^st May, 2003.  He attended the first meeting of the newly-constituted Town Council Finance & General Purposes Committee on Tuesday, 20^th May, in order to present a report on the community consultation process which had now become known as Teignmouth Regeneration Project.  He also suggested that, now that he was not a Town Councillor, it may be appropriate for the Council to replace him as one of its representatives on TRP.  The suggestion was turned down and W. Ridley has continued to represent the Town Council since that date: the position has been confirmed at subsequent Council Annual General Meetings and he has continued to make regular written & verbal reports to the Town Council on TRP progress.

TRP ought to have gone straight into the next step of the process, but the spread of foot & mouth disease in the South West suspended government help as it turned its attention to funding the rural areas that were suffering economic and social upheaval.  TRP was officially informed of this new government policy in July 2003, but it was stated that a totally new initiative to help rural and coastal towns was to be explored.  Notwithstanding the withdrawal of government support, it was decided to continue with the aid of help from the Town Council, Teignbridge District Council and Devon County Council.  Eight Sectors were established each covering an important aspect of community life.  KMCA provided the administrative and secretarial support both for the Executive Management Group and the Sector organisation.

Progress Report February 2004:

By Wednesday, 25^th February, 2004, when TRP held an open meeting at the Community College in order to report developments to the community, the government position had not changed and the original eight Sectors had been reduced to five.  The most significant merger was that by which the Sector for Community Development (KMCA-led) also took over Sports & Recreation (little progress made) and Learning & Skills (at the request of the Community College which had previously been responsible).

The meeting heard that, although funding for TRP had ceased, some significant progress had been made particularly in the area of community development: TRP had supported the establishing of Dawlish & Teignmouth SureStart and encouraged KMCA to consult with all age groups in West Teignmouth as well as with Teign Housing and Teignbridge District Council.  Significant improvements to the environment, to play facilities, to increasing the awareness of the need for healthy living and for assisting adolescents-at-risk to better-equip themselves for transfer from education to employment were but a few of the beneficial outcomes.  At the same time, the KMCA staff expanded in numbers and became very efficient at identifying the needs of the community and translating these into a host of successful grant applications.

Starting Again!  TRP as Part of MCTi  from October 2004:

In October 2004 support came on-stream again from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) via the RDA under new rules: the Market & Coastal Towns Initiative had been established and Teignmouth was included.  Unfortunately, this meant that the previous consultation phase (2002) had to be repeated!  TRP was provided with money to complete community consultations that included, not only the town, but neighbouring areas as well.

Although the bulk of the money was provided by RDA, the Town Council, Teignbridge District Council and Devon County Council also gave assistance.  The many hours of work of a large number of volunteers was also recognised in determining the RDA contribution.

The TRP Managing Group advertised for a professional consultant to co-ordinate the process so that it conformed to RDA expectations.  Public advertisements and interview led to the appointment of Hannah Reynolds Associates of Exeter.

Public advertisements were also placed for the services of a team of Community Agents that would provide the essential administrative, secretarial and field support.  The Chairman personally contacted several agencies including Teignbridge CVS, West Den Services and the Community Council of Devon, to ensure that there was a general awareness of the opportunities.  Eventually, KMCA was the only applicant. Following interviews and contract negotiations the TRP Community Agents Team was established with its base at KMCA.

The MCTi phase of public consultation was completed in September 2005 with the publication of  'Tomorrow's Teignmouth,' the town's Strategic Action Plan.  By the end of the year two previously derelict premises, the Ice Factory and the former Swanson’s Garage, which are owned by the District Council and been made available for a wide range of community and learning and skills activities.  With TRP support advantageous leases had been granted by Teignbridge District Council to KMCA whose staff brought about the essential refurbishments.

On 14^th February, 2006, TRP became a Company Limited by Guarantee called Teignmouth Community Development Trust.  It has adopted the working name of ‘Tomorrow’s Teignmouth.’   It is, thus an incorporated body able to take on the future leasing of premises in its own name should it be desired rather than having to rely on another organisation such as KMCA.  Funding to continue the work of the Community Agents has been provided by the Market & Coastal Towns Association and Teignbridge District Council.

A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF TRP WORK SINCE EARLY 2003

• Tourism – Limited consultation: TRP website established - heritage trail plans put in place by Folk Festival Committee
• Business -  Extensive consultations: few outcomes on account of complex nature of issues e.g. extension of commercial footprint at Broadmeadow, but hope springs eternal -flood defence scheme (lead taken by Town Council) – discussions with the Fishermen & Watermen’s Association re protection of the Teign fishing industry
• Town Centre, Seafront, Environment: production of a plan for The Den & Promenade entitled “The Living Promenade” – new play area put in place by the District Council in July 2005 at a cost of £410,000 - further developments planned for 2007 - over 20 submissions made regarding the Local Development Framework  
• Estuary & Waterside – Extensive consultations with community and agencies – mari-culture development, facilities for walkers & cyclists, water sports strategy under negotiation

Wef 24^th February, 2004,

the following areas have been addressed

by KMCA on behalf of TRP-

• Community – Extensive consultations - building the capacity of the community especially in partnership with District Council and a wide variety of social agencies (Social Services, Connexion, PCT & local medical practices, Teign Housing & tenants, Teignbridge CVS, Devon & Cornwall Police, ….  – advice, support and grant application writing on behalf of the Friends of Teignmouth Orangery and Teignmouth Players – support to safeguard the future of the Teignmouth Carnival.

• Sport – Extensive consultations: no progress but the complicated negotiations regarding the relocation of the community sports’ hall and the provision of playing pitches are making progress the issues having been taken up at County & District levels by Councillors and Trustees of TCDT – discussions with Teignmouth Corinthian Yacht Club regarding improved facilities aimed to extend the development of Teignmouth as a major centre for international competitions
• Learning & Skills – Extensive negotiations: Partnerships & networking with Teignmouth Community College, Dawlish Community College, Teignmouth Academic Council, Exeter College, Dartington College, Learning & Skills Council, a wide variety of grant-awarding bodies and local bodies such as Teign Corinthian Yacht Club, Teign Diving Centre, local caterers – encouraging the development of social enterprise businesses, audit of skills need by local business sector, personal & vocational programmes for adolescents, development of work placements, improved youth service provision, negotiations to create a Teignmouth Watersports Centre

Summary:

• TTRP (TCDT) has always adopted the strategy of working with existing local organisations in order to strengthen them and not to compete with them or replace them.
• The people of Teignmouth and their representatives have devoted to the community many hours and a wealth of experience and skill over many years.  They have had admirable support in many way from the Town Council, Teignbridge District Council, Devon County Council, the Market & Coastal Towns Association, the Regional Development Agency, Devon Towns Forum, professional consultants and numerous other bodies both local and more remote.  Grateful thanks are due to all.
• It is, however, no exaggeration to state that without the skill, energy and competent work of KMCA the whole of the TRP process would have been impossible.  It is very pleasing to reflect that here in Teignmouth we found a group of young people who were willing to work all hours, meet every deadline and extend their individual ranges of competences all for the benefit of the local community.  It is an example not frequently repeated elsewhere.  Each of them deserves a medal and to echo Lord Kitchener – “Your community STILL needs you.”
• The period up to 14^th February, 2006, was one of public consultation and influence.
• The period since that date is one of implementation, review and assessment.  It is also one of great potential, but this can only be fully realised if the partners who have worked so well during the period of consultation develop even greater integration of their individual and group involvements in the work aimed at the attaining of targets that will ensure the continuous regeneration of Teignmouth and surrounding areas.

             Bill Ridley                       September 2006