The Berry could be transferred back to the people of Salcombe, along with three of the town’s other green spaces - in an offer made to the town council by South Hams District Council last week.

Representatives from Salcombe Town Council were invited to a meeting at Follaton House, Totnes on Monday, June 12. Town mayor Cllr Mike Fice, deputy mayor Cllr Nikki Turton, town clerk Gill Claydon and the town council’s solicitor were told by SHDC that “they believe local assets should be looked after by local authorities, and wished to follow this ethos in Salcombe”.

SHDC offered to transfer ownership of all land at the Berry, excluding a parcel of land adjacent to St Dunstans Road and the access track to the Berry car park; Courtenay Park; Cliff House gardens; and New Cross gardens to the town council. It was made clear that the town council would be responsible for maintaining these assets after the transfer had been completed.

A Salcombe Town Council spokesman said: “This was just a preliminary meeting and approval for these transfers would have to come from both the members of SHDC and the town council. It was agreed that SHDC would prepare a heads of terms agreement and submit to Salcombe Town Council as soon as possible. Once this has been received, discussions will commence and there will be public consultation before any decision is made by the town council.”

Town mayor, Cllr Mike Fice told the Gazette this week: “We were quite surprised when we went to the meeting. We weren’t expecting this offer, we were expecting a much more confrontational meeting, but it was all sweetness and light. It’s what the town say they want and we want to try and negotiate the best deal we can. This will obviously be a big saving for SHDC. We need to look into this to ensure it’s stable and that we’re not setting ourselves up for a fall.

“Personally I’d be pleased for the land to be given back to Salcombe. It should never have gone away in the first place. But we have to be sensible with a view to costs and maintenance, but I do think it would be good for the town.”

SHDC have stated that they are “awaiting a proposal” on the one wooded area at the Berry not included in the offer (and not in the original gift from the Carr family), known as ‘plot A’.

“It would be a shame if houses were built on this plot. Salcombe doesn’t have enough green spaces, and we’ve lost lots of trees and back gardens in recent years,” Cllr Fice added.

A South Hams District Council spokesman said: “Officers and members attended a very positive meeting with Salcombe Town Council and are pleased to report that South Hams District Council and the town council have agreed, in principle, to an asset transfer of the Berry, Courtenay Park, Cliff House gardens and New Cross Gardens.

"We tabled the offer at the meeting, and with Salcombe Town Council keen to pursue the transfer, the next steps will be for a report to go before members for approval, and likewise the town council would need to consult theirs.”

The Berry was left to the people of Salcombe by Elspeth Carr in the 1940s, and subsequently held in a charitable trust. In 1972, the Local Government Act meant that Salcombe Urban District Council ceased to exist, and land in their ownership was transferred to the newly formed South Hams District Council, but leased back to the town council.

The offer comes in response to ongoing legal wrangling between the two councils over the status and future of the Berry, with its lease up for renewal in August. Salcombe Town Council have confirmed that while negotiations continue, they’ll renew the lease on the Berry when it expires.

Andrew Groves from the Keep the Berry campaign, who started a petition signed by 430 people to “let Salcombe keep the Berry”, said this week: “We certainly made SHDC sit up and take notice that we were not going to just let them do what they want with our town.”

Mr Groves also drew attention the costs that would go with the transfer, particularly the sea wall at the bottom of Cliff House gardens which could have “high maintenance costs”.

At last week’s Salcombe Town Council meeting, mayor Cllr Mike Fice said: “As a word of caution, lots of land has been offered and it is my duty to point out, that once transferred, Salcombe Town Council would be responsible for all costs, such as maintenance, cleaning, playground assessments etc.

“We need to quantify the costs and then put them to the town in a public meeting. “The maintenance of the Berry is currently paid for by Salcombe Town Council though,” Cllr Fice added.

Salcombe Town Council expect to have received the heads of terms in time for discussion at their full council meeting on Wednesday, July 12.