The transfer of South Hams District Council assets to Dartmouth Town Council has delighted councillors at both local authorities.

District council leader Cllr John Tucker said: “We are thrilled that the asset transfer has completed with both sides satisfied with the agreement in place.  We will continue to support the town through yearly maintenance contributions for the first five years and also by continuing with the litter bin collections.

“This transfer has been on the cards for a number of years and will be of mutual benefit to the district and the town councils.”

Cllr Richard Cooke, chairman of the council’s parks and open spaces committee, said: “The transfer of assets from South Hams District Council to Dartmouth Town Council has been a long time coming and we are overjoyed that it is finally coming to fruition. 

“We welcome the challenge to improve the parks and gardens and our new town groundsman and gardener are looking forward to making a big difference in the town.”

Cllr Rob Lyon, the mayor, said: “A small team of people from Dartmouth worked with South Hams District Council some years ago when Royal Avenue Gardens was nominated for a Green Flag Award and we will strive to achieve the award again. 

“We are very pleased that our town currently looks as good as it does under the current weather circumstances and this is due in part to the huge effort that Dartmouth Green Partner­ships have put into the beautiful baskets and tubs around the town.”

The town council will now be responsible for Coronation Park, Royal Avenue Gardens, together with open spaces at Townstal and charity-owned land at Warfleet, together with the Castle Estate woodland.

The district council will, however, continue to support the town council by making an annual maintenance contribution, to help with the running of the assets. This will total £450,000 paid in amounts which reduce over a five-year period.

An agreement in principle has also been reached that the district council will continue to provide litter bin services for all areas and the town council will now take on grounds maintenance responsibility for Manor Gardens, Colling­wood and Victoria Road play parks, along with the Mayors Avenue car park boundary hedges.

The finer details of the agreements will be finalised in due course.