Council wants to sell historic monastery

The former monastery opened in 1883

A Devon council is looking to sell the former Victorian-era monastery despite campaigners wanting to turn it into a community centre.

Councillors and campaigners in the Clifton with Maidenway ward proposed the building in Paignton to be used for a community centre.

The former monastery opened in 1883 and once was home to the Marist priests, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

A report meeting of the cabinet committee said the building should not be listed as an asset of community value, but the committee said any sale listing was to make sure the community got first refusal of any sell-off.

Councillor Cat Johns said the decision was "sad news".

Johns said: "It's 1-0 to Torbay Council but it's not over.

"We will search other avenues to make sure that the people of Clifton with Maidenway have their own place in the monastery which they deserve."

Torbay Council said it would take five years to restore it usable for the community

The council said the former monastery did not meet the criteria to be listed and it would take at least five years to restore it to a "usable condition".

Council officers said there was no current use by the community, and had not been since 2017.

A cabinet meeting due to be held on Tuesday is to debate the situation.