THE Market Hall in Okehampton closed last week in preparation for its conversion into a cinema ? but acrimony between the town council and the hall?s former users remains. Beatrice Symm, from Okehampton, who hired the hall from the town council and organised markets more than 20 years ago, visited the hall last Friday and watched sadly as work on converting the hall began. She said: ?I am just heartbroken. I cannot believe it is gone. We used to have all sorts of stalls; craft stalls, jewellery, fruit and vegetables, a flower stall and we let charity stalls in for free.? Mrs Symm was also upset that she had not been notified that workmen were coming into the hall to start the project so soon after the market closed its doors last Tuesday. She had catering equipment in a cupboard inside the hall, which also stored items belonging to Steve Wreford, proprietor of the monthly auction, formerly held in the hall. Last Friday, Mr Wreford and Mrs Symm emptied the cupboard but said they only became aware work was going on inside the building as she happened to be passing the hall by car that morning. Former town mayor Cllr Tony Leech, who also called into the hall during the day, said the council had found a possible alternative venue for market traders in the lower market hall. He said it had room for around ten market traders, and within around a month, it was hoped it might be possible to revive Okehampton?s market. Cllr Leech said the council also wanted to discuss other possible uses for the Charter Hall, which could include craft and antique fairs. Earlier in the week, some traders had been left angry after they claimed the town council had committed a U-turn, and given them just half a day?s notice to vacate the hall. Local resident Derek Godfrey-Brown, who formerly ran the town?s farmers? market, said he could not believe how shabbily traders in the hall had been treated in their final week. Traders had previously been told that Saturday, September 30, was to have been their last day in the market, as the council was set to complete lease negotiations with Merlin Cinemas. But traders say they were told during the course of the day they had been given an extra week?s grace. That all changed last Tuesday morning, October 3, when town clerk Don Bent informed stallholders that when they vacated the hall at the end of that day?s trading, they would not be allowed back. Mr Godfrey-Brown said as the town council had informed the traders ?no ifs or buts? that the market was definitely to close on Saturday, he was ?absolutely beyond speech? to learn it had changed its mind twice in 72 hours. Town clerk Don Bent said he ?regretted? the fact some of the hall?s former users were unhappy. However, he said the traders had been aware of what was happening for several months. ?We gave them four months? notice last November, which expired in March, since then we have done things on a month to month basis,? he said. Mr Bent said one trader had taken up the option of having a Saturday stall in the Charter Hall alongside a community coffee morning, and this could develop into a regular arrangement. He said work on the conversion of the hall appeared to be progressing well and he believed Merlin Cinemas were on track to be open before the end of the year.
