PIPPINS Pre-School and Nursery has submitted a planning application for Listed Building Consent for internal alterations at the former Mid Devon and Crediton Council Offices in Market Street, Crediton.

The plan includes no change to the exterior of the Grade Two Listed Building but internally on the ground floor include the plan includes removal of lift and internal stud walls, replacing doors, skirting board changes, the removal of an adult toilet and washbasin to be replaced with two child sized toilets and washbasin.

On the first floor the plan includes removal of the lift shaft, internal stud walls, removing stud work wall and skirting boards, door replacement and installation of child sized toilets, two small washbasins and a baby changing unit.

As the staircase is listed the solution is to cover the bannister and landing with mesh netting and secured with cable ties.

The building, built around 1850, was formerly an office building built for the Downes Estate.

It later became a police station, complete with holding cells and in 1858, a magistrates

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

Mid Devon District Council sold the building to the highest commercial bidder in 2018 despite the full council of 42 members deciding in the February of that year that it should sell the building to Crediton Town Council.

The Cabinet overturned the full council decision to sell the building which angered local residents.

In 1974 there were 17 District Council staff employed at the building but MDDC moved all staff from the building in 2016.

Currently the building is occupied by Crediton and District Community Transport and the Crediton office of Citizens Advice.

Angered largely by the decision not to sell the building to Crediton Town Council, a number of local people have formed Campaign for Local Democracy in Mid Devon, a group which held its first public meeting last month, which attracted more than 30 people.

The group says it will campaign hard for the district council to change to a more democratic form of governance.

Mrs Hazel Hodge, from Pippins, said that the proposal to move was: “a really great opportunity for the children to be in a nicer building and altogether better situation”.

TREEN MOTORS

A planning application has been submitted to demolish the garage and flats at Treen Motors at Charlotte Street, Crediton and erect five dwellings and form access and parking.

All planning applications submitted to MDDC can be viewed on the council website at: www.middevon.gov.uk .

Reference for the Pippins application is 19/00450/LBC and for the Treen Motors reference is: 19/00667/FULL.

Comments are currently being invited by Mid Devon District Council.

• What do you think of these planning applications?

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