LEGAL safeguards are likely to be included as part of the handover of six public spaces in Teignbridge to ensure they remain for community use.

A statutory notice issued in May sparked a public outcry as it described the ‘disposal’ of assets and led to many complaints.

Teignbridge Council later apologised for the ‘unnecessary alarm’ publication of the notice caused.

Now it says it legal safeguards will be included as six areas of land are in the process of being transferred to town and parish councils.

The council says the exact terms will depend on the circumstances of each site and discussions with the receiving councils.

The proposed transfers would give local communities more control over how the spaces are managed and maintained.

The council says it recognises the legal notice that was published in May this year caused major concerns about the future of the sites.

The notice used the legal term “disposal”, which can include transferring land to another council as well as selling it.

The council received 152 objections and two petitions following the legal notice.

Many respondents raised concerns about potential development and called for the spaces to remain available for recreation, health, wellbeing, and community use.

Six of the sites listed in the notice are being considered for transfer to town and parish councils. The council has confirmed it is not proposing to sell these six sites on the open market.

The proposed transfers cover: Cromwells Way, Bovey Tracey; Palace Meadow, Chudleigh; Heath Close and Heath Hill, Heathfield; Prince Rupert Way and Naseby Drive, Heathfield; Ashburton Road, Newton Abbot and also Courtenay Park in Newton Abbot.

A small strip of green space at Morningside in Dawlish was also included in the legal notice but is not part of the proposed transfers and is instead being considered separately as part of a wider review of assets that may be sold on the open market.

The proposals form part of the council’s strategic asset plan, which aims to ensure council-owned land and buildings continue to support local communities.

A review carried out in 2025 considered whether council properties should be retained, transferred, developed, or sold.

It identified several sites where management by town and parish councils could give local communities greater influence over their future.

Councillor David Palethorpe, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Economy, Estates and Major Projects, said: ‘We know how much these spaces mean to the communities that use them.

‘Transferring them to town and parish councils would give local communities more control over how they are managed.

‘We also expect to include appropriate legal safeguards in the transfer agreements to support their continued community use.

‘We recognise that the wording of the legal notice caused concern, and we want to be clear that the six proposed transfers are not open-market sales.’

Teignbridge District Council will continue working with the relevant town and parish councils as the proposals develop. It will update residents before any final decisions are made.