Devon council urged to halt demolition of historic mill buildings
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Heritage groups call on Teignbridge district council to convert buildings in Newton Abbot rather than raze them. The wooded banks of the River Lemon, which tumbles through the town of Newton Abbot from the heights of Dartmoor, has long been a hive of activity, the site of corn and wool mills and tanneries that have employed thousands over the centuries.
![[Workers at a mill in Newton Abbott.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/623f330153d5e35d923c7864917671a6000870fd/0_86_421_253/master/421.jpg?width=120&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
But demolition crews are about to move in to clear a collection of mill buildings and make way for housing despite an outcry from local people and from national conservation organisations, who argue the historic structures should be saved and re-purposed.
![[An artist’s impression of a new “creative quarter” ]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/6e26ec554d41c64c4cb5b50c8a4dcba7eeada5c6/28_18_628_377/master/628.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
The National Trust and Save Britain’s Heritage are among a host of bodies who say it would be better on cultural and environmental grounds to preserve and convert the buildings rather than raze them. Nature campaigners are also worried that the loss of Bradley Lane Mills will endanger creatures including bats that roost in five of the buildings, the swifts that nest here and eels that live in the leat running through the plot.
Teignbridge district council, which owns the site, has been accused of rushing through the demolition, due to begin from Monday, because it needs to quickly use money allocated from the UK government’s future high streets fund – or lose it. Claire Stoyle, who lives near the site, called the plan shortsighted. “The buildings are wonderful. They have stood for years and should be re-purposed. Nobody is against housing but we should be doing something with these buildings, not knocking them down.”.
