TEIGNBRIDGE Council is in hot water once again over its stewardship of Newton Abbot's historic buildings. In the last few months, it has come in for repeated criticism from the Civic Society, which claims the council's record in caring for the town's heritage has been less than impressive. This time it is the Georgian Group which is unhappy. The Georgian Group campaigns against the neglect, maltreatment and destruction of Georgian buildings, parks and gardens. It has written to the council complaining at the way Lovegate House in Highweek Street has been 'restored' as part of the Asda development. The Grade II-listed neo-classical townhouse, built in 1810, backs onto Asda's car park. As part of the works, the privately-owned building has had windows replaced, a new boundary wall built and other works carried out which the Georgian Group claims are 'inappropriate' and detract from the 'appearance and character of the site'. The group wants to know why it was not consulted on the applications, in line with a government circular on national amenity society consultations. 'The group regret this lack of consultation given that there were significant implications for the listed buildings included in the application, notably Lovegate House.' The letter continues: 'It is likely that archive photographs exist of Lovegate House, with original railings intact; such an aid should have been referenced at Lovegate House. If no documentary material could be found, then parallel examples from the early 19th century in the town should have provided the model'. They were tipped off by Civic Society member Barry Kaye, whose flat in St Mary's Court, Highweek Road, overlooks the site. He watched with increasing concern as work proceeded. He says the windows are modern in appearance, so too is the choice of bricks and railings for the boundary wall, cast iron downpipes and guttering have been replaced with white plastic and the original brickwork at the rear of the house has been covered in a modern render. When he contacted the council's deputy enforcement officer, he was astounded to be told that nothing could be done as the work had been done in accordance with the plans. 'It is such vandalism. In fact it now resembles an upmarket modern housing estate. This building is important for our heritage and they have done this work without apparently bothering to consult any historian or architect.' Mr Kaye is planning to take the matter up with the local ombudsman and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to try to get satisfaction. Michelle Kenney, a council spokesman, said that the age and nature of the property was taken into account. The boundary wall bricks were sourced and accepted in consultation with the Conservation Officer and similar consideration was given to the railings. She said that Lovegate House never did have a formal setting to the rear, but was surrounded by older buildings, which were demolished in the 1970s for road widening. 'This set a challenge when it came to creating a suitable setting, including appropriate ground level adjustments for flood protection, against the backdrop of a large new supermarket.'
