NEWTON Abbot & District Civic Society and Save Britain’s Heritage held a successful joint public meeting regarding the future of Vicary’s Mills last Tuesday, upstairs in the Bradley Suite at the Jolly Farmer.

Dwarfed by local elections, the King’s Coronation and a bank holiday, the meeting had just a few days to gain momentum.

Entering the former ballroom, attendees were greeted by its high ceilings, chandeliers and oriental lilies, and surrounded by images of Mill workers from the 1920s, plus displays about the current threat, and alternatives.

Introducing the meeting, Eloise Rokirilov, the chairperson of the Civic Society, summarised the history of the Mills and explained how we got here. Gasps were heard at times – for example at the demolition figures: 14,000 tonnes of concrete, brick and stone to be crushed on site only to be reused in the new application, or 240 tonnes of asbestos to go to landfill - or the cost of submitting the planning application: £28,379.

Accompanying slides showed some examples of Newton Abbot’s greatest heritage – Seale Hayne, the Lime Kilns, Wolborough and others, and some of what we have lost – images of the 2018 fire at the Wagon and Coach Repair sheds drew emotional responses.

The origins of Vicary’s Mills go back to at least 1467, when Gilbert Yarde inherited Bradley Manor. The Mills would originally have been built to serve the Manor, a Grade I listed National Trust property since 1938. The Vicary’s were subsequently a fundamental part of Newton Abbot’s history and development.

As well as the public, a handful of councillors were invited, specifically those who represented the Mill area, or directly around it. Of those invited, Councillors Janet Bradford, Jackie Hook and Martin Wrigley attended, additionally Councillors Mike Ryan and Alex Hall booked seats. Councillor Phil Bullivant was invited but did not respond, nor did Councillor Hayes.

New Councillor Richard Buscombe was invited via a colleague (his official email was not yet set up), but was away. They answered some questions posed by the public, and passions flared almost immediately.

Those attending had a strong feeling for the site, and also a hunger for protecting the character of the town; what is proposed currently is full demolition of all the buildings, burial and diversion of the Leat, and construction of a standard housing estate of 90 properties.

Following the introduction, chairperson Eloise introduced Save Britain’s Heritage, who presented their work, their purpose, and examples of their successes, before inviting their commissioned architect Jonathan Dransfield to speak about the exciting alternative vision they have drawn up for Bradley Lane Mills. Instead of history wiped out for a suburban estate, it shows a thriving community, retaining and re-using the buildings for live-work spaces, loft-style apartments, employment space, riverside pub, community and arts spaces, and some new homes.

The Benbow Interior buildings are retained but opened up with glass-covered walkways; the design helps the local authority, who have owned the site since 2010, meet the criteria they originally sought to attain, and also fits in even more homes than are currently proposed.

Where do we go from here?

Several people asked how they could respond to the planning application (22/01500/MAJ), given its complexity and how to even start.

A rough guide will be put together to help people, as responses can still be submitted. The current developers have been given an extension of time to meet Environment Agency requirements regarding flooding issues, prevalent on the site.

Save Britain’s Heritage also have one or two developers who are interested in the site - it is now a balancing act of process, politics and business that hangs in the balance.

You can contact Newton Abbot and District Civic Society via [email protected] for further advice or to join the mailing list or the Society or both.

► The planning application reference is 22/01500/MAJ