A better-resourced library came out on top as the facility most in demand (1,516, 66%). A cinema rated highly (1,383, 60%), closely followed by a music and theatre venue (1,163, 50%).

Many people put forward the idea of a community arts centre, incorporating these facilities plus exhibition space, a night club, a restaurant and dance space, theatre and a music venue.

Other suggestions varied between wanting a 24-hour shop, better public toilets, better restaurants ‘with real food available at night’, a community information centre (although some thought the community office and the Mansion already catered for this), a laundrette with parking, a children’s park, and a bowling alley.

The Ariel Centre is little used by the people of the town. 63% of respondents never use it at all. Only 512 use it for music and 375 for drama.

A surprising number of people commented that they had ‘never heard of it’ or, were ‘not aware of the facility’.

Poor advertising and PR were mentioned, but many people commented that programming was not sufficiently interesting, or attractive.

Its siting next to the school seem to put a few people off, commenting that perhaps it was "not a serious venue’, ‘too tied to education’.

The location was also blamed for difficulties with late night access, particularly to and from areas like Follaton.

Cost was mentioned as a problem, and cramped seating and poor design, too.

A lack of childcare for young parents wanting to go out was mentioned as another obstacle, while the Dartington Arts was favoured by many as a better venue.

However, those who use it, enjoy it mostly for art exhibitions, Ways With Words events, conferences, craft fairs, theatre and children’s performances.

The Pavilion

Again, use of the Pavilion is limited. 621 people (31%) use it for sports once a month, or more frequently.

Many parents miss a warm shallow pool for very young children, there seems to be too much chlorine in the water, and changing rooms are unpleasant.

Car-parking fees, high cost (340 people, or 41% respondents) and the limited ‘women only’ programme were mentioned as other deterrents to using the venue.

However, the new sports hall was most welcome, and many parents appreciated the children’s play area and holiday play schemes.

The Civic Hall

The Civic Hall is a valuable, but wasted resource. At most, only 558 respondents use it for drama and 421 for music.

It is used mostly for public meetings, fairs, talks, antique market, events like Steiner School’s Christmas market, Oxfam Fair, panto’s, charity events, voting and blood donations.

The main reasons for not using it were an uninteresting programme (especially the absence of good music events), poor advertising, a lack of transport in the evenings, and poor facilities (276 people, or 33% respondents).

The comments suggest that the Civic Hall was once a popular and well-used venue, particularly for live music.

If the ‘sound restrictions’ problem could be resolved, it would be used well again.

1,797 people (77%) would like to see the Civic Hall improved for community use. In general terms, 70% thought that soundproofing would help, 66% asked for internal improvements, and 40% for improvements to the exterior.

744 people (43%) would like the Civic Hall to be managed by the community.

However, many people would prefer to demolish the existing Civic Hall, and build a new one.

It is clear that Totnes feels very strongly about the eventual fate of its Civic Hall.

Any attempt to arrive at a solution will require skilled facilitation and a process that will help the community to work collectively towards an agreed goal.

Young children (between 8-14) seem to be better off, with under 8’s being the best provided for, though facilities are still deemed poor by 21% and 38% respondents respectively.

Although a small proportion of people are happy with the existing facilities like the drop-in centre at the Mansion and the music venue at the Ariel centre, the majority think that the facilities on offer are failing young people miserably.

Four out of five responding adults thought that a ‘skill and talent centre’ would benefit young people.

Music and the arts were also seen as an important part of young people’s life, with 58% of adults recommending a music venue or ‘somewhere‘.

Some suggested improvements to existing facilities like the Pavilion, the Civic Hall and the Mansion. Others were in favour of building a new all-purpose centre which would house facilities like a cinema, community arts venue, computer/IT facilities, a theatre space, night club and exhibition space, geared particularly to the needs of the 15-23 age group.

Although one-third of respondents were in favour of more skating facilities, a number wanted to see other sports (apart from skateboarding) encouraged.

Suggestions included a bowling alley, more football facilities, sailing clubs, more cycle paths, a clean river for swimming, basket ball, sports camps and more green open spaces to "lark about in".

Many adults suggested asking young people themselves what they wanted, and encouraging them to take on the responsibility of managing their projects.

For example, the idea of a young people’s cafe run and managed by them was supported by 56% of respondents.

At the same time, a minority expressed concern about unsupervised activity and thought that some adult input would be necessary (e.g. a joint adult/young people partnership).

Some people put forward ideas in the hope that they would "distract them [young people] from T.V., drugs and alcohol" and help cut down on vandalism.

The overwhelming demand from young people themselves was for a music venue (80% of 11-21 year olds, and 86% of 17-21’s). ‘The Lanterns’ at Ashburton was mentioned by many as a good model to aim at.

Otherwise, two-thirds supported a self-managed young people’s cafe and skill/talent centre, 55% favoured a drop-in centre and 42% wanted more skaters’ facilities.