DIY Ottery councillors saved town thousands

HANDS-ON officials took up residence in Ottery s new community facility last month- after saving the town thousands of pounds by overseeing the building s make-over themselves.

HANDS-ON officials took up residence in Ottery's new community facility last month- after saving the town thousands of pounds by overseeing the building's make-over themselves.

Town councillors have put in shifts laying carpets, tiling, stripping wallpaper and even knocking down walls to transform the newly-dubbed Old Convent in Broad Street, which will now act as their new home.

Mayor, turned plumber and electrician, Glyn Dobson said he has practically "lived" at the site for the last six months and praised his fellow officials.

He said: " We (the council) have self- managed the project from the beginning, getting quotes for all the work- then put it to the full council to decide who did what.

"We've been lucky because we have a string of councillors that have supported the project the whole way through- and they have done what they could to have support us. We've even had them in here cleaning toilets.

"I've been stopped by members of the public in the street offering to help out. I think everyone is very grateful we have preserved building for whole community."

Furniture for the premises was even stored in one councillor's barn, but had to make way for some new arrivals last year.

Cllr Dobson said: "George (Hansford) told us we had to move it because the lambing season was about to start. The same day we'd finished collecting it all he gave me a ring to say he'd had his first arrival.