RESIDENTS of Hatherleigh who are concerned the town may lose its market are again being urged to lobby West Devon Borough Council and Central Devon MP Mel Stride.

Around 50 residents of Hatherleigh and surrounding area attended a public meeting in the Vine Church last Thursday to discuss how to save the historic market.

It was organised by the 'Save Hatherleigh Market' committee, a group of residents concerned about the town's future should the market close.

Among those in attendance was West Devon Borough Cllr Christine Hall, the ward member for Hatherleigh.

The committee discussed the latest development plans shown at the public consultation event held by LHC Architects in December, having details of the plan posted up in the church.

The group has softened its stance on safeguarding the security of the livestock market. Instead, it has shifted its focus onto saving the Tuesday pannier market and ensuring an adequate market space is provided by any development plans.

At the outset of the meeting, committee chairman Neil Price laid out the group's new objectives: 'Being realistic, the key aim for us now is to ensure that we keep an undercover market on a Tuesday.

'An undercover market is a great facility for the town, and for town events such as the Hatherleigh Carnival and the tar barrel run.

'The Tuesday market brings a vast amount of people into the town and we need to keep that going. It is also vital for the future of the carnival and barrel run that we have a large undercover space.

'We want the plans seen at the recent consultation event to change, as we don't feel the current market plan in those plans is viable.

'As a committee and as a community we are also wary of the number of proposed houses.

'The size of Hatherleigh now is just about big enough to get things done, and yet not too big to lose the community feel of the place.

'If these plans as they are go through, the town will become too big and that community spirit will go.

'The only time we have any say is now, during the planning process. We need to make sure we are heard now. People need to write to their MP, sharing their concerns.'

The change in focus raised a debate on the importance of the livestock market to the town and its future viability.

Hatherleigh resident Sonia Lindsay said: 'The livestock market is what brings a lot of people into the town. If we lose that, we may lose the town as well.'

Committee member Cindy Squire explained the thinking behind the change in the committee's stance: 'As a committee we realise that things have to change, but if we can sway the plan as much as we can, that can only be a good thing.

'We want to be seen to be positive and not be seen as just complaining about change.

'What we want to do is ensure that any change is for the best of the town and the community, not just the developers.

'The current plan is to have the pannier market roughly where it is, but to move the fur and feathers, the most viable part of the market, across the other side of the main road.

'That is insane, and shows the developers don't have a true understanding of the market or how it works.'

The committee is now looking to assemble a list of viable business prospects for the development plan, including a garden centre, micro-brewery, a town museum, and visitor centre.

Anyone who wants to share their thoughts on viable business prospects for the development or has any other suggestions can send them to [email protected]">[email protected]

The committee is urging those concerned by the development plans to write to their MP and to West Devon Borough Council so they can see the strength of feeling in the area.

The plan to build 140 residential units in Hatherleigh also caused concern for people at the meeting.

Hatherleigh resident Mike Payne said: 'One thing we have to slam home in our letters of objection is that Hatherleigh can't handle 100 more houses, let alone 140 more, without sufficient provision for employment.

'The plans as they are don't provide enough jobs to sustain the people moving into those houses.'

Chairman Neil Price asked if anyone at the meeting was in favour of the 140 new homes being built. There was no positive response from anyone in attendance.

Other issues raised by local residents include overdevelopment in nearby towns, the width of roads in the town and the need for any new buildings to be sympathetic to the Hatherleigh conservation area.

For minutes of the meeting, visit http://www.hatherleigh.net">www.hatherleigh.net