The on-going game of tug-of-war between Salcombe Town Council and South Hams District Council over The Berry was brought to the forefront again last week.

On Wednesday, May 9, the SHDC sent out a press release entitled, “everyone gets a bite of The Berry,” to which councillors replied saying that it is “grossly inaccurate”.

The press release stated that SHDC is to take The Berry, Salcombe, back into direct control and allow the facility to be used by any interested sports clubs in the Salcombe area. The land is currently owned by SHDC in a charitable trust, and is being used by the Salcombe Rugby Club.

It claims that the rules of the trust mean that a lease cannot be granted to the Rugby Club, and as a result the council plans to take the facility back into direct control and allow it to be used on a book-to-play basis.

It ends with a quote from Cllr John Tucker, leader of SHDC saying, “The council feel that this is a great opportunity for other sports clubs in the Salcombe area to use this facility, without the added difficulties of maintenance.

“We hope very much that the rugby club will continue to use the pitch as their practice ground and looking forward, we’d like to extend an invitation to any interested groups who might like to use the facility in the future to get in touch. We’re keen to see the area benefit as many people as possible.”

The press release has since been withdrawn, but not before Salcombe Town Councillors had their say at the bi-weekly town council meeting later that evening.

Cllr Mike Fice, former Town Mayor and current Treasurer for the Rugby Club, was quick to point out that the press release is referencing the old hockey club, which is currently being leased to the Rugby Club, “so it’s not the whole Berry that they’re referring to”. He then added that he had two main concerns.

Cllr Fice said: “My first concern is that we’re currently in discussion with the South Hams about transferring the land to the town council; these discussions don’t seem to be happening, yet the press release says the South Hams are going to take it back into their control, and now it’s being used on a book-to-play basis. It seems to be pre-empting any discussions we’re having about transferring the land back to the STC.

“The second concern is that the lease on the Rugby Club doesn’t run out until the October 31 anyway, and as I understand it, that decision could be contested. It seems to me a situation of putting the cart before the horse in issuing this press release.”

Cllr Lindy Sinnott added, “It’s very disingenuous and very bad taste in saying that ‘everyone gets a bite of The Berry’. It’s an issue that’s very important to us as a town.”

Cllr Simon Wright, SHDC then stated: “What they’re trying to do is go back to what the trust originally set out to do and that was for the use of the town.”

Cllr Sinnott said: “The press release is stating that the land is owned by the SHDC, when we as a town council are trying to get it back. This goes out as a news release - what are people going to think? The residents have come to a public meeting, voiced their opinion, and seemingly to this news release, nobody’s taken any notice.”

Cllr Fice added: “The Rugby Club is still a part of The Berry in negotiation to be transferred to the STC.”

Cllr Keith Baker finished the discussion in response to Cllr Wright.

Cllr Baker said: “Simon you’re missing the point, the news release has been put out, which is grossly inaccurate, because it talks about SHDC’s plans to ‘take The Berry back into direct control’, and anyone who reads that first sentence knows that this town council has been maintaining for years and paying a lease to you, the South Hams Council.

“If nobody reads beyond that, that’s what people will understand. I think you’re doing this town council and the people of Salcombe a great discourtesy by doing this.”

A revision of the press release has now since been released, with changes to the first two paragraphs, stating, “The Charitable Trust responsible for The Berry is to take part of the playing fields back into direct control, and allow the facility to be used by any interested sports clubs in the area.

“While the Charitable Trust continues to negotiate an ongoing issue with Salcombe Town Council for the rest of The Berry, the area currently used by Salcombe Rugby Club needs to revert the Trust.”

The Berry is an area of land gifted to the people of Salcombe in the 1940s. The agitation around The Berry stems from the fact that the land has been leased to STC by SHDC for over 25 years. The main area of dissatisfaction is whether the land should have ever been transferred over to SHDC in the first place. As the land becomes more valuable, worries that the SHDC will eventually attempt to develop the area grow.

Originally, it was gifted to the now dismantled Salcombe Urban District Council by Elspeth Carr. However after the Local Government Act of 1972, the SUDC was abolished to be replaced by STC and SHDC. During these changes, The Berry was transferred over to the influence of SHDC. This was all legal, but it has caused friction amongst the residents of Salcombe ever since.