IT is rare that I feel the need to comment on items as they appear in the press, not least since the presentation of events in a particular light is both the preserve and the rationale for elected members with their respective political hues.

However, the ongoing coverage relating to the District Council’s consideration of the Town Hall building in Crediton has been overlaid with a hue of such viscosity that I fear its opaqueness has obscured the relative simplicity of the situation.

For your readers’ clarity, as part of managing its asset portfolio the council decided to explore the disposal of the Town Halls in Tiverton and Crediton.

In Tiverton, having determined the limited commercial value of the building, we sought to agree a deal with Tiverton Town Council – that deal eventually being struck at half its value.

Discussions then turned to the Town Hall at Crediton, where a decision over the summer of 2017 was delayed to allow the consideration of commercial or redevelopment opportunities prior to disposal.

Negotiations with Crediton Town Council up to that point had been progressing on exactly the same basis as with Tiverton, however the Town Council then chose to submit an application to register the building as an asset of community value.

Put simply, this now obliges us to follow national legislation around the disposal of assets of community value. This process has now been instigated, with a period of six weeks for any community group to express their interest in buying it, and the remainder of a six-month period to subsequently raise the funds to purchase it at market value.

As I understand it, Crediton Town Council has duly submitted its expression of interest. Clearly at the end of the six-month period, the District Council will have a decision to make depending on the nature of this, or any other offer received during that time.

Since this process was triggered by Crediton Town Council, it is odd that remonstrations continue as to why we are now following a process different to that of Tiverton. We have to, by law, because the Town Council required us to.

This was all discussed in public at the District Council’s scrutiny meeting on October 9 and is a matter of public record. However, I do of course realise the appeal of wading through committee minutes online can be, at best, rather limited. Hence wishing to clarify in this manner.

Stephen Walford

Chief Executive

Mid Devon District Council

Phoenix House

Tiverton

• Editor’s note: Mr Walford refers to the Town Hall building in Crediton but this is incorrect and he should be referring to the Council Offices, Market Street, Crediton.

The Town Hall in Crediton is the Old Town Hall on the High Street owned and managed by a Trust.

Crediton Town Clerk, Mrs Clare Dalley, when consulted about Mr Walford’s letter, as above, says that Mid Devon District Council under the Right To Bid Legislation could decide to sell the Crediton Council Offices to Crediton Town Council (which has registered an interest) at any time and, in fairness, at the same half of the restricted value as it did for Tiverton Town Hall.

She said the Registration of the Building as a Community Asset is Government legislation to protect such buildings which are highly-regarded in a community such as the Council Offices from being sold without consultation and gives organisations or groups such as Crediton Town Council a right-to-bid.

She said that Crediton Town Council should be offered the building in accord with the Localism Act and she emphasised that this could be done at any time, and for the half the restricted value as Tiverton Town Hall, and at any time, explaining that Mr Walford was wrong saying it had to wait for six months.

Mrs Dalley said it was “extremely disappointing” to read “such misleading and inaccurate comments” when “Crediton Town Council is trying to negotiate a satisfactory result for the people of Crediton”.

Mrs Dalley added that it was Mid Devon District Council’s Cabinet which decided to look into the possibility of disposing of the building for commercial or redevelopment opportunities when it could have decided on a fair deal for Crediton as it did for Tiverton and it can still do that.

Councillor Elizabeth Brookes-Hocking spoke at a recent meeting of MDDC to express the view of Crediton Town Council.

The Council Offices in Crediton houses high quality public services, information and signposting, community meetings and provides access to support services and associated facilities which enable and enhance the quality of life and life chances of those living in Crediton and its rural hinterland.

Mrs Dalley recently said: “The building has provided public services for in excess of 40 years when it was acquired by MDDC in the early 1970s.

“Crediton Town Council has been based in the building since the 1970s.

“Although the District Council withdrew its service on April 1, 2016, the building continues to be a hub for community and public services.  These services are valued and much-needed.

“The Town Council recently commissioned Devon Communities Together to undertake a feasibility study regarding the building and its use.  This concluded there is substantive evidence regarding the value of the Council Office building remaining a community hub and its contribution to the reduction of negative impacts of rural isolation and its positive contribution towards social, educational, health and well-being of the local community.”

After April 2016, for just over a year, MDDC ran an occasional surgery service for the benefit of the Crediton community.

Only recently Mid Devon District Councillors rejected a proposal to re-instate the surgery service it offered at the Crediton Council Offices.

Cllr Frank Letch had proposed that a monthly service be re-instated at Crediton and Cullompton but the plan failed to receive backing from district councillors.

• What do you think of Mid Devon District Council’s proposal, now on hold, to sell Crediton’s Council Offices for the full asking price?

Share your views with fellow “Courier” readers.  Write a letter, suitable for publication, with your name, address and a daytime telephone number (not necessarily for publication) to: The Editorial Manager, “Crediton Courier”, 102 High Street, Crediton EX17 3LF.

Alternatively, email your letter, with the required information, to: [email protected] .