GOOD NEWS, SPECULATION, AND MORE GOOD NEWS

OLD THATCHED INN...

So many people had said to me how dreadful this burned out listed building was looking at the main entry point to Bovey Tracey from the west, and have asked what the council was doing about it. Well, now you know. The Town Council is the new owner of the site, and has announced that it will restore the exterior of the building, while introducing new council offices, council chamber and community space for the benefit of the parish. It also proposes to include a new Information Centre, and to build new toilets to the rear. These will replace the existing cabins and toilet block in the car park, which together should help the whole site look much more welcoming to visitors and residents alike. The positive comments made by so many of you since this announcement are greatly appreciated. 

SPECIAL CONSTABLE...

It is particularly pleasing to learn that Devon & Cornwall police has agreed to Bovey Tracey gaining a Special Constable for the locality next year. Responding to a circular sent out to south Devon communities last summer about the potential deployment of Specials, and with the support of my council and NHW colleagues, I was able to make representation for us here in Bovey. I felt this would augment our excellent neighbourhood policing team, at a difficult time when the pressure on police resources is increasing due to the severe budgetary constraints. This shows that the needs of our town do get seriously considered, and Inspector Dave Hammond and Sgt Ian Stevens must be thanked for their efforts on our behalf with this.

SUPERMARKET, COVENANT, AND COMMUNITY USE?...

If you are to believe what some people would have you believe, it would seem Sainsbury’s is coming to town. Well, the truth is far from that. It does seem that Sainsbury’s has for some time been considering Bovey Tracey as a potential target for a new store. Its agent (Storegap) made an initial enquiry about the possibility of acquiring a site here, and an approach was made about the possibility of using council owned land (off the Le Molay-Littry Way), which was given to the town by developers with a covenant restricting use to community purposes.

While dialogue with Storegap has been discontinued, the council, being a statutory body, has felt that it must follow all proper process and procedure in this matter, which includes a duty to gain full legal understanding of the remit of the covenant covering the site, including the implications of two of the signatories no longer existing. It doesn’t follow on that the council is planning to invite offers from Sainsbury’s or any other national chain as a result. And even if the council were able to sell the site, it would have to be offered on the open market.

Indeed, I’d like to know what “community use” means legally, wouldn’t you? This could be just the impetus needed to consider the land’s future use for the benefit of us all in the foreseeable future rather than later or never.

At the end of the day, I, as a councillor, want to be able to form an opinion on this based on all the facts available. What is certain is that the council will give full consideration to the options open to the town, and will ensure that the people of Bovey Tracey are given the opportunity to have their say and get listened to about the future direction we take. After all, this is what you elect a council to do, and it is the democratic way to decide on this matter. I do not believe this council will let you down on this, and it will be good to get your positive support at the appropriate time.

GOOD NEWS STORIES (CONTINUED)...

All the talk about the impact a new supermarket might have on the town centre has helped me focus on two more successful businesses that bring people into Bovey (again, one well established and one new).

BOVEY BUSINESS No 1...

Mann & Son was, I understand, established in 1829, and has been at various times a saddler, butcher and dairy. It is now known widely as a successful delicatessen (the shop opening in 1837), specialising in quality local produce and specialist foods from the wider UK and Europe. Mann’s told me that events held in the town centre (like the French and Christmas markets) significantly increase footfall, but, so as not to be totally reliant just on visitors to the shop, the Manns have taken the initiative to branch out in two new directions.

In 2006 they, together with Ian Wellens, set up a specialist cheese business (The Cheese Shed) selling local artisan cheeses from the shop and by mail order. At Christmas, activity increases to include cheese boxes, while Cheese Wedding cakes are made to order all year round. An excellent website and the addition of new Westcountry products for the future will all help to grow this part of the business. The Cheese Shed won the Observer Food Monthly’s Best Independent Retailer accolade for 2011. Also, together with Deborah and Gavin Trott, the Manns have established “Delimann” an on-line business (for which Gill Mann was nominated as a “mumpreneur of the year” by Mumpreneur magazine) specialising in sending out Devon Cream Teas and personalised food gifts and hampers by courier all around the country. The website is an excellent marketing vehicle, and, in my view, shows how local businesses can address the changing face of food sales while expanding their market well outside the locality. These excellent achievements by an imaginative and industrious team show how a small country town based business can be expanded well beyond its boundaries.

BOVEY BUSINESS No 2...

As you walk up Fore Street, you may notice a shop with groups of mostly women sitting around a large table taking instruction on various stages of knitting. Fascinated, I went to meet Joyce Mason, the owner of “Spin a Yarn” to see what it’s all about. Wow, here I found a very busy place stocking colourful yarns from around the world and running courses and workshops about knitting, crochet, spinning and felting. The ladies I spoke to there were all from outside Bovey and made it a regular trip. Think about it: coming from Exeter to Bovey to do their shopping! Doesn’t it just sound right!

Joyce has a mailing list of 3,500 from Fair Isle to the Isle of Wight, with 1,300 customers in the loyalty scheme. Mail orders amount to around 10 per day, and the system is going on-line early this year. She also employs 6 part-time staff. To accommodate the continuing growing interest, I suspect she will be seeking bigger premises before too long. The shop also runs willow basketing workshops, and provides an outlet to other local producers (e.g. of local organic yarns). Spin A Yarn is a very imaginative and impressive initiative, which brings folk into the town. I feel it will help to establish Bovey Tracey even more so as a major craft centre for the South West, joining our other key selling point as Gateway to the Moor.

BROOKWELLS...

In relation to my earlier good news story about Brookwell Supplies, I’ve been asked to point out that Michael Brooker of Bovey Tracey was one of the co-founders of Brookwells along with Jeff Dowell (hence the name Brookwell). I’m pleased to address this omission here.

Tony Allen is a Bovey Tracey Town Councillor & Leader of the Bovey NHW Forum

Other columns by Tony Allen