03 Sep People power saves Paignton Monastery, set to become community hub

Paignton Monastery can be found at the top of Berry Drive, just off Colley End Road

I want to tell you a story and what a long saga it has been, but it proves that people should never give up!

Back in 2019 Torbay Council put the monastery at the top of Berry Drive up for sale, so I contacted the local Clifton & Maidenway Community Partnership about saving it for the community.  We had a small local community picnic in the woods by the monastery and initially had interest from an Arts charity in the South-East. Then Covid hit in early 2020 and everything stopped. Finding out anything about the monastery from then on was impossible. Then in August 2025 I discovered, in the Torbay Weekly, that the monastery was up for sale again so I sent an e-mail to Lib Dem Councillor Cat Johns asking whether we should give it another go.

To cut a long story short, everything took off very quickly from that point, with Lynn Alfred-Burrow (the fantastic Clifton & Maidenway Partnership Chair) and Cat Johns leading the charge. An absolutely brilliant team of people has been created who, between them, have exactly the right set of skills for the project to succeed. Paignton Monastery CIC have a website with a donations button and a Facebook page. It’s all very professional and I am just over the moon that the monastery has been saved from demolition by a potential developer and that it will be the Community Hub the Clifton & Maidenway ward so desperately needs. Exciting times are ahead. It seems that 2025 was the right time for the monastery. Hats off to everyone who has worked so hard for this. Please do consider donating or supporting in any way you can, including practical help.

A Repair Cafe for Torbay?

Do you hate seeing things go to waste? Enjoy fixing things? Tinkering with tools? Sewing? Welcoming people or making cakes?

FREE EVENT: Paignton Library, Thurs 24th September (7pm – 8.30pm)

Come along to explore setting up a Repair Café in Torbay. There are lots of ways you could get involved. If you’d like to find out more about the event or have any accessibility needs email Ruth – [email protected]

Everyone welcome.

And lastly, I have been talking with the marvellous Deirdre Makepeace (Palace Theatre) about starting a Pride in Paignton group on the model of the Pride in Brixham group – those fantastic volunteers who do so much to make Brixham look beautiful, particularly with the planting around the harbour.

But we need YOU! If you are someone who has wondered why Paignton doesn’t have a group like Brixham does, then get in touch. Between us we can make Paignton beautiful again!

If you’d like to get in touch with me, you can call me on 07703 715235 or email [email protected]