THE historic Chudleigh town leat is now flowing again.
Last week, a member of the town's history group, Alan Brunton, told Chudleigh Parish Council that the blocking off of the Town Mill water supply had allowed the leat to dry out and deteriorate.
But this week it is flowing smoothly again.
Mr Brunton blamed the Cavanna Millstream Meadow development, by stating that the water supply had been blocked off because gardens in the development were becoming boggy.
Michael Griffin, head of design, planning and land at Cavanna developments, defended the company.
'The leat has to stay running, because it has a history – it is a monument. It only stops running when work has to be carried out. Sometimes we don't agree with things being done, but we have to comply with the Environment Agency.
'There are some gardens that are wet, and water is coming through because clay is sitting on rock and water runs through the rock and clay and comes to the
surface. Water is also coming through because of the leat. We are trying to make it waterproof, but I think it will settle down and when drainage is put in that will help,'said Mr Griffin.
The leat was constructed more than 200 years ago by Napoleonic prisoners of war.
It is a historical asset, which Mr Brunton thinks should be preserved.
l Chudleigh History Group, whose member Pat beasley expressed alarm about the leat, is to hold an eight day exhibition of local history helped by an £850 grant from Awards for All.