NEWTON Abbot Town Council is set to boost its environmental credentials after signalling support in principal for an ‘eco hub’.

The project has been proposed by Green Futures Newton Abbot, a community interest company which aims to improve the environment and people’s wellbeing.

Working with The Vicary’s Field Community Garden Group and the Newton Abbot and District Co-operative Allotment Association, it hopes to build the hub on Town Council land between Bradley Lane and the Bradley Manor estate.

Already home to the community garden, the new building at Vicary’s Field would provide a tools library, workshop, teaching area and plant propagation.

Social space would be enhanced by a kitchen in which home grown food could be prepared.

Reclaimed stone from soon-to-be demolished mill buildings in Bradley Lane could face the single-storey structure which would be built using local timber and feature a turf roof.

High specification insulation and triple glazing would ensure energy efficiency.

Last Wednesday, members of the Town Council were given a report from Green Futures which outlined the project.

It said the hub could ‘encourage a greater level of habitat conservation and restoration which will… ameliorate the impacts of climate change’.

Other benefits would include providing a ‘clearly defined focal point in the town that demonstrates our collective commitment to an environmentally sustainable future.’

Town Clerk Phil Rowe told members that if the authority offered its support in principle, then Green Futures would prepare a detailed business plan and start to identify funding sources.

Before a vote unanimously in favour, Cllr David Corney-Walker told his colleagues: ‘I want us to be giving out the message that we are behind this. Let us make it absolutely clear that this is the kind of initiate the town council supports.’

Cllr Mike Hocking said the creation of an eco hub could breathe new life into the community garden where volunteer numbers had been falling.

’This idea from Green Futures will hopefully give the community garden the impetus it needs,’ he said.

l Information about Green Futures is available at www.green futures-newtonabbot.co.uk.