A health and safety check is holding up the re-opening of a popular Teignmouth seafront viewing platform.
A month ago this newspaper highlighted the concern of local walkers about the gates to the viewpoint above the Teign Corinthian Yacht Club at Eastcliff being locked.
The area should be kept for public use after a deal between Teignbridge Council and the yacht club, when it was given a lease on the premises.
The platform, providing panoramic views along the coast and across Lyme Bay, was closed at night because it was being used by vandals and thieves to target the clubhouse, but was supposed to be unlocked every morning.
It is understood that a complaint about a bottle being thrown from the platform by yobs on to the promenade below, has meant a full health and safety assessment has to be carried out.
Teignbridge spokesman Tim Borrett said: 'We appreciate the value of the viewing platform to local people, and are keen to see it in use once more.
'We have been discussing this with the parties involved, and have offered to take responsibility for opening the platform in the morning, and closing it again at night.
'We hope to see it open again shortly, and just need to complete a health and safety evaluation of the site to ensure that any issues are given full consideration.
'This will be completed later this week, and we hope a final decision can be made shortly afterwards.'
Mike Moses, the Teignmouth resident who first complained about the lengthy closure, commented: 'I think the council have now had long enough, and should open it quickly – it is part of our heritage.
'I have had numerous people stop me in the street to say they support my campaign.
'I think this health and safety issue is ridiculous. The police tell me they have not had a complaint about bottle throwing.
'Things can be thrown off anywhere – buildings, cliffs, the sea wall – so does that mean safety checks have to be carried out there as well? It is political correctness gone mad.'