Details of a meeting called to discuss the future of Lighthouse beach in Kingswear are being kept under wraps.

The two hour talks between beach owner David Southwick and Kingswear parish council which took place more than a week ago were supposed to try and hammer out how or if the beach could finally be re-opened to the public.

Nothing is thought to have been settled at the talks and further meetings are now due to be held.

Dartmouth district councillor Hilary Bastone – who took on the job of chairing the talks – refused to reveal any details of what took place saying: 'It was a private and confidential meeting.'

All he would say afterwards was: 'Discussions are ongoing.'

The talks were expected to touch on public liabilities, security, insurances and just what section of the beach could be open to the public.

It is hoped they could result in both sides calling off the public enquiry over the parish council's bid to have the beach declared a village green – a legal battle it has been claimed will cost both sides up to £50,000 each.

Parish councillors who took part in the talks are expected to report back to Kingswear Parish Council when it meets next Tuesday – although that too is likely to take place behind closed doors.

The parish council has been at loggerheads with Mr Southwick for years over public access to Lighthouse Beach.

The footpath to Lighthouse beach was fenced off as long ago as 1999 and there is even a sign on the beach warning people approaching by boat that it is closed.

The parish council believes that the public has had access to the beach for some 100 years before it was closed and they have applied to have it designated as a village green so that it can be reopened. The beach owner David Southwick has opposed the application.

A public enquiry to decide the village green bid was due to go ahead at Kingswear Village Hall this November and last at least three days.

But that was put on hold at a pre-enquiry meeting earlier this year until a test case involving a similar village green battle involving a beach at East Sussex has been settled.