Brixham food bank denied community asset status by council

Campaigners fighting to secure the use of a former Brixham church as a food bank and ‘safe space’ have had their hopes dashed.

Members of Torbay Council’s cabinet decided ‘with a heavy heart’ that their hands were tied and they had no choice but to turn down the application from The Edge.

Allowing the old United Reformed Church in Bolton Street to be designated as an official Asset of Community Value would leave the council vulnerable to legal action, the meeting heard.

“We would all like to help, but we have to make decisions according to the law,” said Cllr Nick Bye (Con, Wellswood)

Listing The Edge as an asset of community value would have given the local group the first option to buy it if it could come up with the cash.

But the committee heard legal advice saying that because the old church has been owned by administrators since the collapse of previous occupants YES Brixham, the council could be in hot water if it did anything to prevent the administrators from getting the maximum price for it.

Tom Crump, a director of the The Edge community interest company, outlined the group’s work which includes a food bank, a community kitchen, meeting rooms and performance areas. It was, he said, a ‘safe space’.

He added: “We provide a warm and gentle environment which is designed to bring people together. It is a true community centre offering a diverse range of activities designed to promote wellbeing.”

Cllr Jackie Thomas (Con, Kings Ash) said councillors recognised the value of the service provided by The Edge, and said there was no dispute that it made a real difference to people’s lives in Brixham.

But, she said, if the administrator lost money as a result of the committee’s decision, the council could be liable.

“We have to take decisions that are lawful and defensible,” she said. “Today’s decision is not a judgement on The Edge or the people behind it – it is a legal decision based on a specific and restrictive set of rules.

“We remain committed to working constructively with The Edge going forward.”

Cllr Bye went on: “I am so sorry that we can’t do what the community would like us to do.”

And Cllr Adam Billings (Con, Churston with Galmpton) told the meeting: “If we had our way, none of us would be in this situation.”

A similar application to have an old monastery building in Paignton listed as an asset of community value was also turned down because it did not meet the criteria, not having been used by the community in recent years.

However, the council owns the monastery itself, and has already offered it to a local community group for £1.