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Community Hub Consultation Results

The Torbay Development Agency has gathered residents’ views on what they would like to see within the community aspect of the Hub Project including the Assembly Hall. Several small focus groups were held in Brixham, Paignton and Torquay in November and December 2008 with members of the Torbay Viewpoint Panel, Equality Group and LGBT Group.
A number of manned consultation days in the Assembly Hall were advertised, as was a static exhibition in Torquay Library, a day in the council’s consultation caravan and local press coverage.  Regular users of the Assembly Hall had been previously consulted and invited to a private preview of the three options.
Surveys were made available at the consultation events, and an online version, along with the options, was on the council and TDA website.  Various local groups were alerted to the consultation including Tormohun Community Partnership, Torre Community Action Group, Peoples Republic of South Devon, and Torbay Voluntary Service.
A total of 173 were completed and a summary of the findings can be seen in the following table.

Results

Summary of Findings

  1. When did you last use the Assembly Hall?
    46% of respondents were regular users, and a further 19% had used the hall in the last month. 14% had never used the hall; 15% had used it in the last year.

  2. What did you use it for?
    53% reported using the hall for the flea market and 13% for badminton.

  3. If you are not a regular user why do you not use it more?
    Most people reported not using the hall because it does not offer the sort of events they would be interested in (44%), and a further 22% said the hall has a lack of facilities.

  4. The Assembly Hall could be used by the community in the future for the following activities:
    • markets - 41%
    • badminton - 17%
    • meeting rooms for use by all - 6%
    • arts centre - 6%
    • concerts - 5%
    • conferences/ public meetings - 5%
    • theatre - 4%
    • weddings - 4%
    • other soft sports uses - 4%
    • health clinic - 4%
    • training classrooms - 2%
    • other - 2%
    • youth group activities - 0%

  5. How important are each of the following to you?
    • entertainment - 90% said very important or important
    • health & fitness - 89% said very important or important
    • cultural heritage - 87% said very important or important
    • economic regeneration - 85% said very important or important
    • tourism - 85% said very important or important
    • adult education - 71% said very important or important

  6. What do you think of 'option 1': to restore the Assembly Hall and keep it in its current form?
    79% of respondents (112 people) liked option 1 strongly or somewhat, with only 7% disliking it strongly. 93 (83%) of the respondents who liked option 1 strongly, use the hall regularly (in the last week) or have used it in the last month.

  7. What do you think of 'option 2': to convert the Assembly Hall into smaller flexible spaces, which could allow for the Hall to be opened up if required?
    8% liked option 2 strongly, and a further 23% liked it somewhat.  38% disliked it strongly.  50 of the 60 people who strongly disliked option 2 use the hall regularly (in the last week) or have used it in the last month.

  8. What do you think of 'option 3': as 'option 2' with meeting rooms to the sides and an extension of the balcony by creating roofs above the meeting room suites?
    The majority of respondents expressed a strong dislike for option 3 (55%) with only 19% liking it strongly.  89 of the 149 that expressed an opinion disliked it strongly, 76 of whom were regular users (in the last week or month).

  9. Do you have any additional comments or ideas?
    deas were an even split (16-17%) between gallery space, children’s clubs, dancing, weddings and events for the elderly.  An equal number of responses suggested improving the hall’s marketing.  17% commented that the heritage of the hall should be preserved.  13% suggested upgrading the facilities only; and 11% said the hall would be ideal for community events and arts workshops.  11% reaffirmed their preference for option 1.

  10. Are you supportive of this project?
    • Yes: 78%
    • No: 22%

Additional Demographic Questions:

  1. Are male or female? An even split
  2. Home post code: Majority in Torquay
  3. Which of the following age groups applies to you? 55% were over 55.  Most were in the 65-74 age group.
  4. Do you consider yourself to be disabled in any way? Majority said no

Comments Received at the Consultation Days

Evaluation of Findings

From the results it can be seen that there is strong preference to keep the Assembly Hall as it currently is, but with some basic modernisation and upgrade of existing facilities. It has also been identified that better marketing of the hall would be beneficial. The ideas for how the hall could be used were quite evenly spread, although ‘markets’ and ‘badminton’ were the most popular options.

Recommendations

It appears that there is a lack of strong interest in Torbay regarding the future of the Assembly Hall from those who do not frequent the Flea Market or badminton clubs, therefore the recommendation is option 1 with moveable partitions, upgraded facilities and better marketing to encourage existing visitors to the hall and promote a variety of interesting future events.

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