Vital investment for our leisure and cultural centres in Torridge

As with many councils across the country, Torridge has faced significant funding cuts from the central government in recent years.

This, coupled with the impact of inflation increases and rising costs of delivering services in a rural area, will put pressure on the council’s budget in the coming year.

Despite the challenges, the council is continuing to lobby the government for better funding and a longer-term settlement that would enable longer-term investments.

Thanks to the Rural Prosperity Fund the council has been able to invest in the leisure, arts and culture of the area, investments include;

• £10,000 – Holsworthy Amateur Theatrical Society (HATS)
• £20,000 – The Burton at Bideford
• £20,000 – The Plough Arts Centre, Great Torrington
• £100,000 – To improve the energy efficiency of Torridge Leisure facilities

Investing in cultural centres across Torridge will support them to deliver much-loved services and activities for our communities and prevent costs being passed onto our residents and helping to secure a much more stable future for the organisations.

Amongst these planned investments is the Burton @ Bideford Art Gallery and Museum, a community venue with art galleries, workshops and is of course Bideford’s tourist information centre.

The Plough Arts Centre in Torrington became a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England for the first time in the venue’s history last year and will also see investment by the council in the coming year, It provides opportunities for people of all ages to experience a wide range of events as both audience and participants. 

And last but certainly not least, we will be investing in the celebrated 250-seat theatre and events hub that is The Holsworthy Amateur Theatrical Society.

At a time when similar leisure centres in rural areas are having to close due to running costs, we are investing in ours now to save on future spending.

Run by Active Torridge on behalf of the council, Torridge Leisure Centre in Northam and Torrington and Holsworthy swimming pools will see energy saving measures put in place over the next financial year.

These include window replacements and new pool covers at Torridge Pool and a replacement front door at Torrington to reduce heat loss. Officers will also consider lighting, pumps, energy management, microfiltration and solar panel provision at the centres.

In looking to maximise funding opportunities for our facilities, Active Torridge has submitted a bid to Sports England for energy efficiency measures at all three leisure centres, to support this ongoing work. And we have applied for government funds of £1.7 million to decarbonise Holsworthy Pool.

This is all in addition to the community infrastructure improvements and new facilities we have already invested in, such as the new play area currently underway at Victoria Park in Bideford and the renovation of Great Torrington Market Hall which saw the iconic Hall get a new facelift in time for Christmas.