A DARTMOOR craftswoman this week claimed Devon County Council will drive her out of business, if it uses public funds to set up a new £1.1-million arts centre just a few miles down the road from her gallery near Postbridge. Joss Hibbs, who runs the Powdermills Pottery, said the proposed new Duchy Square arts centre in Princetown would be in direct competition to her own gallery, where she sells the work of more than 30 Dartmoor artists and craftspeople. The new centre would include a gallery, teaching studio and workshops for around 16 craftsmen and women. Mrs Hibbs said Devon County Council, which has taken the lead in applying for grants under the European Objective 2 programme and the South West Regional Development Agency for the new Duchy Square centre, was planning a ?cynical maneouvre? to get around funding rules. She said: ?When the original application went in for Objective 2 money to fund the Duchy Square project earlier this year, I discovered rules for what Objective 2 funds can be spent on. They state it can?t be used to displace or harm an existing business. ?So in April, I formally appealed to Devon County Council, SWRDA and the Government office South West against the granting of Objective 2 money. ?By mid August I hadn?t heard anything, so I phoned for an update ? I discovered a month earlier my appeal had been upheld. Solicitors advising Devon County Council, SWRDA and GOSW had confirmed my business would be harmed.? Mrs Hibbs said she had not even had a phone call to tell her of the outcome of her appeal and is furious at the attitude of the county council. She said the county was attempting to circumvent funding rules by becoming the Duchy Square project developer. She said: ?The end results will still be exactly the same. Pushing this project through, in full knowledge it will cause hardship, is the sort of behaviour you would expect from a global corporation, not a public body like Devon County Council. ?This is the crafts industry equivalent of a Tesco opening down the road from an independent greengrocer, knowing that it will put it out of business. But at least Tesco uses its own money, not ours ? it?s hard enough to earn a living on the moor without your own county council putting the boot in.? Mrs Hibbs said she has written to the chief executive at the county council, the Regional Development Agency and West Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox. Mr Cox said: ?Obviously, I would be very concerned if public money was being used to give unfair advantage to a business at the expense of a well-established local business. ?I shall certainly be looking into this and talking to the county council and the pottery and if I think there is any unfairness here I will certainly take it up.? A spokesman for Devon County Council said it supported the project as part of the strategic plan to assist the most disadvantaged communities in the county, and as part of its regeneration policy. ?This is concerned with delivering support and facilitating investment into isolated, rural and under developed areas, to provide sustainable growth and boost the local economy for the benefit of the whole community.? The spokesman said the proposed funding bid was for a building which could provide support and opportunities for all aspects of the community by attracting more visitors into the area. It was intended to benefit the local economy through increased spend in allied services and sectors such as accommodation and hospitality. The spokesman said: ?Devon County Council is proposing to act as developer for the site, to manage the construction and build. A free, competitive and open tender will then be raised for the management of the centre, to which anyone may apply. It will be expected that the successful operator ? and sub-contractors if necessary ? will manage every aspect of the centre. ?In opening the tender, all eligible organisations can apply, and these could include Duchy Square Limited, and Mrs Hibbs? Powdermills Pottery. Companies wishing to pursue the opportunity will be evaluated by the DCC procurement team according to standard financial regulations.?
