ENGLISH Heritage has rejected a town council plea to remove listed building status from a Bovey Tracey property.

Now the town council is in discussions with Teignbridge Council aimed at ending the impasse.

A repair notice on the Old Thatched Inn has thwarted the attempt to remove its listed status.

But town clerk Terry Westwood said this week the hiccup was not seen as a big setback.

The town council accepted the public was frustrated at what was seen as a lack of action with regard to the property, but talks were ongoing.

Since buying the fire-ravaged building, the town council has planned designs and produced costings for a community building to replace it.