Seaton: Council to host meeting over proposed purchase of Winstons

SEATON Town Council is to hold a public meeting in a bid to gauge residents views over the possible purchase of Winstons pub as a community asset.

SEATON Town Council is to hold a public meeting in a bid to gauge residents' views over the possible purchase of Winstons pub as a community asset.

Last week, councillors announced at their January meeting that the authority was considering buying the site, in Harbour Road, for use as a community or youth centre.

The move comes after the Willoughby House controversy, when the vendor pulled out of the sale following public opposition.

Mayor Sandra Semple said: "May I make it totally clear that the request to consider the former Winstons pub as a community and/or youth centre came from members of the public and not from town councillors.

"The town council has been given the Elizabeth Road playing fields by East Devon District Council to use for children and young people's projects and we have been concentrating our efforts on what we can do there.

"If, after a town meeting, people were shown to prefer Winstons to the playing fields area, then we might be able to consider it."

But, she added, it would require a full structural survey at a cost of around �1,000, and consultation with Devon County Council, who have responsibility for providing youth workers.

She said there was a risk that the building could be sold before they had time to consider it.

She added: "Our young people must have something, somewhere, and we must make a decision about where to locate a building for them as soon as we can - with their input as well as that of the adult community."

The meeting is being held in the town hall on January 30, at 3pm. Young people are being encouraged to attend.