Bovey Tracey is a step closer to getting a £500,000 civic centre on the site of the Old Thatch Inn.

On Monday members of the town council voted overwhelmingly to proceed with the next stage of the project to replace the burnt out shell of the pub despite complaints from some of the 15 members of the public present.

Concerns about the cost were heard such as that expressed by resident Jim Williams, who said: 'You're spending council tax payers' money for some years into the future on something the council shouldn't be doing as it's not a property developer.'

Mayor Cllr Anna Klinkenberg said the 'rather sobering' position the council found itself in meant delivering a new town hall was a matter of urgency.