Keith Stokes-Smith, Lord of Newton Abbot Borough town, writes:

I would refer to your front page headline of last week

entitled Square bought for the people referring to the small parcel of land in the centre of Newton Abbot at the junction of Bank Street and Market Street.

I wish to congratulate all

concerned on achieving the

purchase of this land, which occupies an important location and for such a small sum of money.

I had been looking to purchase this land myself this time last year and to subjsequently make it available for community use, but the asking price then was £400,000.

It would seem that events overtook the owners of the land such that it ended up being auctioned a few days ago with little or no interest.

Acquiring the land at £50,000 was certainly down to some luck but also due to the hard work and tactics put in by a number of people and organisations.

Well done to the Communty Interest Company, its chairman, Cllr Ken Lewis, and all those working in the background, including Jeremy Newcombe and Cllr Keith Smith.

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