IN 1978 it was revealed that a 37 year-old letter could be vital evidence in a campaign to have part of the Teignmouth river beach restored to the public.

The beach and a right of way were closed off early in the war when the Morgan Giles Boatyard was extended to build warships. It was never reinstated and many local people fear it could be lost for ever if developers gain approval to build flats on the now derelict site.

The Teign Fishermen and Watermen’s Association is leading a campaign to have the beach given back to the people of the town. Retired harbour pilot Alf Broom recalled receiving a letter about the matter in 1941, but thought it had since been destroyed or lost.

He made a search just in case and came across the letter in an old shoe box. It was from the clerk to the old urban council Mr T.W. Woodgates, and confirms that the Admiralty had promised to reinstate the right of way and the beach at the end of the war.

Dated October 8, 1941, it states: ‘In the correspondence which has passed between the Admiralty, the council and the harbour commissioners and Ministry of War Transport, it has been stressed as strongly as possible to the right of way being restored to the public as soon as possible after the war.

‘It has been pointed out the right of way has existed for all time, and is of considerable benefit to the public to riverside users and general public in connection with the river beach both above and below the high water mark.

‘The Admiralty statement admits that the closure will come to an end as soon as the defence regulations is repealed at the end of the war.

‘The council’s solicitors are satisfied that the right of way under Defence Regulation 16 does not vest any right in Messrs Morgan Giles under which they could put forward any claim whatever, adverse to the council.’

Over an acre of beach is involved and the association say they are not against the proposed development but merely want to ensure the beach is protected for the public for all time. Backing the beach campaign is local councillor Arthur Bladon who has been up until the early hours digging out old council minutes on the subject.

From his researches he is convinced the foreshore the foreshore in front of the yard belongs to the local authority and not the Crown Commissioners, as has been suggested in some quarters, or the developer.

Cllr Bladon has unearthed a mass of evidence and is particularly interested in the controversy because his late father sat on the council at the time.

‘My father was one of those who made a public promised that the land would be returned to the town, and naturally I want to see that is carried out.

‘When war broke out everybody gave willingly to the war effort. In Teignmouth it was soon realised that the shipyard was vital. The Admiralty was desperate for MTBs and other craft to be built.

‘Teignmouth responded but made a condition. It would give up its foreshore only if it was returned after the war.’

Cllr Bladon has discovered that plans to reinstate the beach and the right of way were drawn up in 1947, but for some unknown reason were not implemented.

He is now trying to find out why. One theory is that the extra slipways and sheds were never removed because it might have had an adverse effect on the commercial viability of the yard with the loss of dozens of jobs.

The developers, Latchford Homes, have already undertaken to restore the right of way, but pressure will now also be put on them to to give back the beach as well.

The flats scheme known as Morgan’s Reach, was considered by the planning committee yesterday, but deferred for further consultations with the developers.

Planning officer Noel Dann said as a result of a public meeting, Teignbridge had received several representations, most appeared to be in favour of the scheme but some had objections.