Neglected parks can be looked after following the proposed asset transfer from South Hams, according to a Dartmouth Town Councillor.

Councillor Gina Coles took to social media to explain her views on the neglect of the parks and public spaces in Dartmouth. She said: “This is just the start of the decline of our beautiful town. Royal Avenue Gardens is already suffering and will get worse very soon.

“SHDC picked a load of services that they didn’t want to continue with to help them keep to their budget. Clearing weeds and keeping the roads clear was one such service. It happened quite some time ago but they have only just decided to stop completely and finish their ’goodwill’ work. The result is clearly evident.

“Dartmouth Green Partnership does its best and without them we’d be totally desolate and just about as far as we could get away from our award-winning, world-famous town.

Turning to the proposed asset purchase, Cllr Coles said: “Hopefully, all those who are arguing against the town council taking certain parts of our town away from SHDC so they can be looked after by the people who love the town will now desist from their totally unfounded wild predictions of doom.

“The council has, despite what a couple of people are wondering around the streets muttering to anyone who stops to listen insisting to the contrary, done all the sums, and is confident that the town can be brought back to its former glory. It will be a successful take over of what are now quite clearly liabilities but will soon become assets. And if our residents get behind the council it will be much appreciated, I’m sure!

“We have our own mini-Brexit at the moment. This is not an exaggeration, we have our own EU (SHDC) we have our own remainers (won’t name them but you are bound to be accosted in the street, if you haven’t been already, to hear rubbish and lies being pedalled by men who should know better) we have our own cabinet (council) dissenters we even have our very own Boris!!! Soon, I hope, the council will make an announcement.”

“Richard Rendle is trying to stop the only chance Dartmouth has of being returned to the beautiful town it once was. His letter contains many inaccuracies and should be ignored. Mr Rendle has given much to this town but unfortunately he is always in the ’don’t do it’ camp whenever changes are suggested.

“He had his chance to stand up and be counted and guide the asset transfer but he resigned from the council instead of staying and making sure that his voice was heard. “Now all he has is the letter’s column of the local paper to voice his concerns. History will tell if he is right or wrong just as it did many years ago when he tried, unsuccessfully thank goodness, to stop the Flavel from happening.

“Just a reminder that the ’massive increase’ on Dartmouth’s portion of the council tax is around £1.20 a week. I have asked many people their views on this and not one has said that they are not willing to pay it. The pictures are telling it how it is at the moment. Still, there may be a positive side to it, a funding stream for SHDC!”

Richard Rendle commented: “Initially, I voted in favour of the Flavel when they said they didn’t want any money from the council. When they asked the council for £100,000, I voiced concern but never against, to stop it.

“In fact, I voted in favour of the Flavel as mayor but continued to voice concerns about viably having two civic buildings. This was because I did not think Dartmouth could afford two civic buildings. This has turned out to be correct as the Guildhall is not fully utilised and its refurbishment, allegedly, has cost £350,000.“