Residents’ association chairman wants electorate to have say over new plans for a community centre.

Residents have launched an effort to force a second town poll over plans for a �2million community centre.

However, the first approach to Honiton Town Council cannot be accepted - because it does not call for a public meeting.

A letter requesting a town poll was submitted last week by Ken Sherman, chairman of the Northcote Lane Area Residents’ Association. Eleven people signed it.

Six signatures are required to call a meeting .

He wrote: “At the recent public meeting regarding the community centre, it was obvious that all previous objections and the town poll were to be disregarded and, in view of the very aggressive approach to any objections and objectors, we feel that a further poll could settle the matter once and for all.”

Honiton Town Council is seeking planning permission to develop the centre on land next to the town’s magistrates’ court, in Dowell Street.

Previous plans, which were the subject of a town poll, fell through when East Devon District Council withdrew its offer of land in front of the Thelma Hulbert Gallery.

Mr Sherman is concerned about loss of car parking in Dowell Street, traffic congestion and pollution and says “more serious thought” should be given to the economic downturn.