Plans to Save Kingsbridge Beauty Spot

Hundreds of people have now signed a petition to try and save a beauty spot in Kingsbridge which Devon County Council want to sell.

Combe Royal House is currently used for council admin and the grounds enjoyed by local people but the authority are moving out. They are putting the house and land on the market very soon intending to sell them together.

A new group has formed to fight the plans called Action to Keep Combe Royal for Kingsbridge Community. They have been holding meetings in the town and getting people to sign petitions.

Campaigner Rosy Creasy: LISTEN HERE

Rosy Creasy from the group said: "The petition asks Devon County Council not to dispose of the land at Combe Royal, but to find ways of opening it up for the community to use, it also opposes the sale of the Combe Royal estate without giving the community in Kingsbridge a fair opportunity to acquire it.

"People can walk and exercise there, you can run events, there is a pizza oven for open air parties, vegetables are growing, you can teach people woodland crafts there."

The Council have told Heart: "The original decision was taken by the Corporate Asset Group on 20th October 2009, namely that Combe Royal will be sold by Devon County Council, it was discussed at the Corporate Asset Group meeting held on 11 December 2009 following a number of representations made by members of the local community.

"At the original discussion in October the Corporate Asset Group were fully aware of a number of groups who currently make use of the land, however, the decision to dispose of the site as one lot will remain and the property is to be put on the market shortly at which time any group or individual will be able to come forward with an offer in common with any other interested party."