FRESH impetus has been given to a campaign in the Crediton area to stop Mid Devon District Council selling off the building which has been devoted to local government and serving the local community for more than 150 years.

Built around 1850 by James Wentworth Buller, sometime MP for the area, whose descendants still live in their 17th century manor house on the edge of town, he sold it to the police for it to be used as a police station, with holding cells, and magistrates court in 1858.

In 1972 it was sold to Crediton Urban District Council but transferred to Mid Devon District Council upon local government reorganisation in 1974.

The former magistrates court has been used as an impressive council chamber ever since.

HALF THE VALUE LIKE TIVERTON

Now members of Mid Devon District Council Cabinet have decided to sell the building to the highest commercial bidder, despite the full council (42 members) having decided in February that they should sell the building to Crediton Town Council at half the value, in the same way it sold the town hall to Tiverton Town Council (the major town in the district) a few years ago.

In 1974 there were 17 District Council staff employed at the building but they had been pulled out completely by 2016, retrenching in Tiverton some 14 miles away and pretty much inaccessible to local people unless you have your own transport.

So the presence of the Town Council in the Crediton building is the only practical link the local population has with local government for the town and more than 25 parishes in the surrounding rural area.

Apart from the Town Council, one of the neighbouring parish councils meets there, the building accommodates the offices of Citizens Advice and the local Community Transport group, and more than 20 local voluntary groups, use the facilities offered by the building.

They are all being made homeless by this decision.

Hundreds of local people have complained to the District Council about the proposed sale but the District Council appointed an estate agent and accepted an offer, subject to contract, almost two months ago.

MALADMINISTRATION

At this 11th hour a petition urging the District Council to reverse the decision is gaining hundreds of signatures and several local residents have lodged formal complaints to the District Council about the undemocratic way in which they have handled the affair.

A Mid Devon Alderman, David Nation, is one of the complainants and in his letter of complaint to the Chief Executive Stephen Walford, he described the decision as an “affront to democracy” and accuses the Council of maladministration.

APPEAL

More recently, Tiverton and District Community Transport Association, took to social media site “Twitter” stating: “We Need Your Help…due to the sale of the Crediton Town Council Offices we now need to find an office space to let in Crediton.

“We only require a small space, would need to be accessible and have internet access.

“Any knowledge of any such space would be hugely appreciated!”

Mrs Clare Dalley, clerk to Crediton Town Council is asking that people help find a suitable office for the Transport Association, and also on “Twitter” stated: “Can you help? We don’t want to lose this invaluable service”.

INVESTIGATION

Mr Stephen Walford, the chief executive of Mid Devon District Council, is currently investigating the complaints, under the terms of the council’s complaints procedure, by a number of local residents regarding its proposed sale of the Council Offices.

Many of the residents who have complained to MDDC say that they will take the matter further to the Local Government Ombudsman if they are not satisfied with the outcome from Mr Walford.