RESIDENTS in Newton Abbot are being invited to put their thoughts forward on the town council’s new £2 million office.

The council is holding two open days to find out what the public thinks of the plans to transform the abandoned St Leonard’s Church into a community hub.

On the open days residents will be able to see the proposed plans and take a tour of the building.

The derelict Grade II listed Victorian building will feature council offices on the ground floor with the rest of the space used as a community hub and the museum will occupy the first floor.

The council will be holding the open days at the Wolborough Street site on January 14 and 25 from 10am until 2pm.

The project, branded Newton’s Place, is being championed by Cllr Mike Ryan, who said: ‘Please come and see what we have in mind and share your thoughts.

‘If this is to be Newton’s Place then we need to know what the people think.

‘We need to be realistic about what can be achieved but that should not mean we can’t be imaginative.’

The council bought the former antiques emporium for £200,000 last year and is spending roughly £1.8 million on development costs.

A bid has been made to the Heritage Lottery Fund for half of that amount and additional funding will come from the sale of the current town hall in Devon Square.

For details about the project, visit the council’s website or call 01626 201120.