ACTION is to be taken to stop 'significant land encroachment' at the edges of one of Salcombe's most important public open spaces.

A small fence is to be erected around parts of the perimeter of The Berry, particularly in Fortescue Road, where cars, boats and other property have been left on public land.

In places, the edges of the Berry have been turned into small garden areas, prompting one town councillor to say that it 'looks like something out of Endsleigh Garden Centre'.

And over time, impromptu parking spaces on the public land have become semi-permanent, with some laybys acquiring signs and chains in an attempt by residents to gain valuable extra parking.

But the land, bounded by Fortescue Road, Kingsale Road and St Dunstans Road, was bequeathed for the good of the town by biscuit heiress Elspeth Carr. It is currently managed by Salcombe Town Council on behalf of South Hams Council.

In April, town councillors along with Steve Howrihane, the now retired buiding manager at South Hams Council, inspected the area and discussed the proposal for a section of low fence along part of Fortescue Road, with individual posts elsewhere around the Berry to prevent encroachment.

Subsequently, having learned of the plans from the minutes of a town council meeting on April 8, a group of Fortescue Road residents emailed the council to object.

After some deliberation, and acknowledging that the issue was 'very controversial' and likely to cause a row, councillors decided to write to all residents of homes around the Berry asking them to remove personal property from the public land.

They also said a response should be sent to the residents that had emailed, explaining that any fencing was being carried out to protect land belonging to the whole community.

Councillors agreed to request that the work, up to £8,500, be paid for out of section 106 funds, money paid to South Hams Council by developers to improve open spaces.

Following the discussion, the mayor of Salcombe Cllr Mike Fice said that the council had to be prepared for a significant backlash. But Cllr Rob Wheeler urged councillors to 'be bolstered by the fact you are defending the interests of the many against the few'.