Related Articles
Torbay’s MP Kevin Foster is calling on the Royal Mail to withdraw its objection to the compulsory purchase of Crossways shopping centre in Paignton.
The concrete complex including a multi-storey car park is almost empty of shops and has been described as an ‘eyesore’.
Torbay Council has drawn up plans to knock it down and built a block of flats for older people on the town centre site.
The Council has started the legal process to secure a compulsory purchase order on the site if talks with the owner to buy it fail.
But it emerged last week that the centre’s owner and Royal Mail, which has a delivery office next to the centre, have submitted objections to the order.
That is likely to lead to a public inquiry which would delay the legal process for compulsory purchase.
(Image: Kevin Foster)
Mr Foster said he would be writing to the Royal Mail’s chief executive to ask for an explanation.
Royal Mail says it wants to protect its mail delivery operation and is working with the council to find a solution.
The Conservative MP said: “Crossways is an absolute eyesore and urgently needs action.
“If Royal Mail have genuine concerns about their delivery office these could be dealt with much better by working with Torbay Council and the community to find a solution, rather than alienating local residents by seeking to hold up the desperately needed redevelopment of this site.
“Whilst the owner’s views on the CPO are not unexpected, the intervention by Royal Mail’s management can only be described as an ill thought out act which could damage Paignton’s attempts to recover, a stark contrast to the way frontline postal staff have worked hard and gone out of their way to support our community during the pandemic.
“Royal Mail management needs to find the community spirit Paignton’s posties have been showing every day and withdraw this objection immediately.”
Mr Foster has welcomed progress on the regeneration scheme, seen as a key part of delivering the Future High Streets Fund project for Paignton which was awarded £13.4million by the Government.
Torbay Council voted in September 2019 to start the compulsory purchase process for the site while holding talks with the owner, in the hope of securing a voluntary deal.
In December 2020, a redevelopment scheme to build 89 sheltered and extra-care flats on the site was given planning permission.
A Royal Mail spokesperson said on Tuesday: “Royal Mail supports the principle of regenerating the Crossways Shopping Centre for mixed-uses.
“As our Paignton Delivery Office is so close to this site, we also want to ensure that any plans for redevelopment do not have an adverse impact on our ability to deliver the mail to local residents.
“We are working closely with Torbay Council to find a mutually beneficial solution.”
