BOVEY Tracey Town Council will retain the freehold of the town hall when it shortly becomes a whisky distillery centre.

During public participation at Monday’s meeting of the recreation, parks and property committee, the chairman of the town’s residents’ association, Paul Beecher queried whether the council would have any financial interest in the town hall when it leaves it.

He said that as a result of the article in last Friday’s edition of the Mid-Devon Advertiser about the whisky distillery being opened by two local businessmen, he had been asked by a number of residents if the council would have any financial interest in the town hall.

‘The general understanding was that the council would sell the town hall, would continue to occupy part of it for an agreed time, would then leave and would have no financial or any other interest in it. Is this still the case?’ he asked.

Committee chairman, Cllr Tony Allen told him: ‘If you want that question answered I suggest that you speak to the town clerk directly.’

This week the town clerk Mark Wells said the reason behind the council retaining the freehold is to keep control of future use.

‘In the event of any proposal going pear shaped we would still retain the freehold enabling us to prohibit residential conversion of the building.

‘We have no further financial expenditure than we would have if we disposed of the freehold,’ said Mr Wells.