THE busy sound of the monthly auction in Okehampton could be heard in the Charter Hall ? but some town councillors claim relocation is contrary to council policy. The town council?s property committee last week agreed to a request by Steve Wreford of Okehampton Auctions to hold monthly sales in the hall, in the event of the proposed cinema development in the market hall getting the green light. But a row developed at a special meeting in the council chambers on Monday, arranged after six members expressed concerns that the decision went against council policy. Cllr Charles Letchford said last January the council stated its policy was to ?not allow markets in the Charter Hall?. He added: ?On November 21, less than three months ago, the council looked at options for accommodating users of the market hall, but it was decided the Charter Hall was not appropriate for use by the auction or the dog training club. What has changed since then?? Cllr Frances Luxton made a distinction between an auction and a market: ?An auction is defined as a sale of items to the highest bidder. That is not a market. That is quite a different thing.? The council had intended to establish the Charter Hall as a venue for ?more prestigious events? such as wedding receptions, but backers of the possible auction move pointed to the evidence that this attempt has not proved successful, with the hall having only been used for one wedding reception in the past three years. Mike Wreford, on behalf of Okehampton Auctions, told the council auctions had been held in Okehampton for the last 70 years, but the firm had come to accept it was likely they would have to make way from the market hall to accommodate a modern commercial cinema. He said: ?Dealers, traders and customers come from Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. There is a feeling of excitement about the sale and it brings benefits to the town. ?You have an important decision to make. Nearly 50 years ago, there was a cattle market in Okehampton, but the market was lost to Hatherleigh. If the sale goes, it will never come again.? Cllr Michael Ireland said he was concerned about the potential for increased traffic problems in Market Street but also recognised the need to keep the sale in the town. Cllr Kay Bickley said the Charter Hall was an amenity building which the council should be looking to open to the widest possible range of community uses to maximise its revenue. She said the situation had changed now that there was a possibility the market hall might be converted into a cinema. Town clerk Don Bent said he had taken advice and believed a ?valid and informed? decision had been taken by the property committee at the previous week?s meeting. A majority of members voted to uphold the committee?s previous decision and sanction the proposed move. Okehampton Auctions were pleased with the decision but a degree of uncertainty remains. Caroline Shaw, of Okehampton Auctions, said: ?We were given to understand that we would be hearing something from the cinema people by mid to late January, but so far we haven?t heard a thing. ?We are still playing a waiting game and obviously we have only got a very short period of time before the original deadline of the end of March.? She said a petition set up to oppose the move had attracted hundreds of signatures. Similar petitions to stay in the market hall have also been organised by the market stallholders and Okehampton and District Canine Society. At last week?s meeting, councillors looked favourably upon a request by Okehampton Farmers? Market to move their market on the third Saturday of the month to outside St James Chapel. Organisers are currently investigated a range of possible alternative venues for the monthly market.
