PEOPLE in and around Hatherleigh are being urged to support the town’s Tuesday pannier market as work gets underway on the Kingswood Homes development surrounding it.

The developer is starting on the first phase of 102 new homes on the former livestock market site which will feature two, three and four-bedroomed properties, including 21 bungalows.

The first showhome will open in the spring.

The pannier market will be continuing in one of the existing buildings on the site, albeit with reduced car parking space.

Market manager Debbie Kimber urged people to continue to support the market, which will ultimately have its own purpose-built premises as part of the development.

She said: ‘I think we are probably looking at another 12 months before the new market is built. In the meantime we need people to support us. The market is really trying to keep going and Kingswood are being as helpful as they can be but obviously they are doing a job so the building process will affect things.

‘We need people to keep supporting us. It is no good only supporting us once the market is built because the livelihoods of the stallholders depend upon it now.

‘Parking beside the market is limited but people can use the council car park and we are desperately trying to get the council to make the car park free to help us keep going.’

Cllr Patrick Kimber, who represents Hatherleigh on West Devon Borough Council, said: ‘It is not easy because Kingswood need the space and the market needs the space but I think they are being considerate and I’m really happy with their co-operation.’

He said he’d received feedback that people did want the houses.

‘People are interested in moving down there, which I think is really positive.

‘We have got younger members of families looking at moving to Okehampton because there is no housing in Hatherleigh so we’d like them to be able to move here if they can.

‘Also, people who want bungalows will be able to move there and free up houses for other people to move into.’