Further delay to Torquay Pavilion takeover

There has been a further delay to Torbay Council taking over the Torquay Pavilion site

There are further delays in handing back a historic building to a local authority.

Torbay Council was due to take back control of the derelict Torquay Pavilion from tenants Marina Developments Ltd (MDL) at the end of September.

The council is planning to restore the building that closed to the public in 2012.

It said it had not been possible to complete the handover of the lease but hoped it would be sorted out as soon as possible.

The Torquay Pavilion first opened to the public in 1912

A council spokesman said there were some changes to the agreement with MDL that needed to be agreed.

The spokesman said: "We have now agreed terms with MDL, however, we cannot complete the surrender of the lease as MDL are reliant on a third party."

Cabinet member for economy at Torbay Council, Chris Lewis, likened it to buying a house.

"You think it's going through and then they say, 'Are you leaving the carpet, are you leaving the curtains?'

"And that's what's happened.

"They've asked questions, there's a third party involved, but all the paperwork is done.

"It's all signed, ready to exchange, ready to be dated and hopefully we will be the proud owner of the pavilion before long," he said.

The building on the resort's harbourside was first opened in 1912 as a concert hall, cinema and theatre.

It received Grade II listed status in 1973 before in later years being converted into a skating rink and a shopping arcade.

The council has not said what it will do with the pavilion but has previously considered culture, food and drink, heritage and leisure uses.

The BBC has tried to contact MDL for a response.