POLICE are investigating a suspected arson attack on Hatherleigh's disused town hall on Boxing Day. Six firefighting appliances were called out at the height of the blaze, which tore through the more than 100-year-old building. Fire crews from Hatherleigh, Okehampton, North Tawton, Chulmleigh and Torrington attended and were joined by a hydraulic platform appliance from Barnstaple. The alarm was raised shortly before 8.30pm on Tuesday after smoke was seen coming from the roof of the town hall. Firefighters found the building heavily smoke-logged, with a large fire developing in the hall's stage area and the roof well alight. Six breathing apparatus sets and two jets were used to bring the fire under control. The fire was contained to about 20% of the ground floor and about 20% of the roof void, which had been severely damaged by fire. The last crew left the scene at approximately 2am the following day. The hall has been disused since Hatherleigh opened its long-sought million pound new community centre in November. A planning application has been submitted to convert the building to four flats and to erect four further accommodation units to the rear of the hall. The proposed units would be for occupation by people aged over 55. The proposed scheme is recommended for approval when it is due to go before the next meeting of West Devon Borough Council's planning and licensing committee on Tuesday, January 9. Hatherleigh Town Council has expressed concerns about over-development, the lack of parking and poor access for additional use, and the borough council has received five letters of objection from local residents. l Earlier on Boxing Day, crews were called out to a bedroom fire in a house in the Moorview area of Hatherleigh. One fire crew from Okehampton and one from Hatherleigh attended and put out the fire at around 7pm. The bedroom was severely damaged by fire. Two breathing apparatus and two hose reels were used by the firefighters.
