During renovation work on the old market where part of a support wall collapsed, a structural assessment report was commissioned and it uncovered that the nine chimney stacks spaced out along the outside of the building on two sides, were unstable and poorly constructed with no support below.  As a result of this report and on the grounds of health and safety the Town Clerk and Property Manager made the decision to take these chimneys down, before there was a serious accident, however all the bricks have been retained and will be assessed and reused where possible.

There is now a meeting planned for South Hams District Council (SHDC) Planners, SHDC Senior Heritage Officer and BBH Architects to try to find a way to assess the structure of the supporting walls and find a solution to bear the weight of the chimneys.

Dartmouth Town Council will be in attendance and will continue to work with the SHDC Senior Heritage Officer, to find a solution to reinstate these chimneys as soon as possible, though all involved have estimated this will not take place until later on in the year.