EDDC agrees to increase its contribution to address water drainage issues.

Honiton’s new community centre looks set to be given additional funds to address water drainage issues to ensure there are no problems for local residents in the future.

East Devon District Council’s cabinet agreed in principle to increase its contribution from the capital budget to Honiton Town Council for the Beehive Community Centre in Dowell Street during a meeting on June 12.

This is to address surface water run-off issues. The discussions were held in private sessions, which exclude members of the press and public from attending.

A statement from Honiton Town Council said: “Honiton Town Council’s consultants have advised the town council for the need to redesign the surface water construction to a higher standard than originally anticipated to address concerns raised in respect of preventing any future potential flooding issues.

“Therefore, as a responsible neighbour, Honiton Town Council has approved the consultant’s recommendation of changing the specification to allow for a system that would ensure that no flooding of properties occurs as a result of a one-in-100-year storm event, including an appropriate allowance for climate change.

“The town council has asked East Devon District Council, being the previous landowner of this site, to financially assist in this matter, as it would be in everyone’s interest to ensure the protection of the adjoining properties.”

Work started on the new centre in March and contractor Midas Construction was awarded the contract for the build.

The project was originally estimated at £2million, which has since been reworked to approximately £1.85million.

Friends of the Beehive have raised more than £30,000 to pay for the extra costs of fitting out the centre.

Fundraising is still ongoing and grant applications have been made.

An East Devon District Council spokesman added: “With any complex major project, new information can come to light along the way, and recently it was discovered that more work would be needed to improve surface water drainage for the new building.

“We take any possible risk of flooding seriously, so to make sure that nearby properties are fully protected we’ve agreed in principle to provide more funding towards this extra work.”

The new centre will include a main auditorium with seating for 300, a café and bar and a variety of meeting rooms to be used by the community.