A SCHEME to build a new £90,000 bridge across the River Tavy in Tavistock is to be investigated in an attempt to attract better usage of the town's Riverside car park.

The idea of providing a footbridge between the car park and the archway into Bedford car park at Abbey Walk was suggested earlier this year in connection with a project to develop new borough council offices at Riverside.

That scheme has been rejected — but West Devon's strategic development committee last week voted to pursue the new bridge suggestion.

David Inman, borough deputy chief executive, told members that overall, Tavistock 'wasn't too badly off' in terms of off-street parking provision.

But he said that situation would change in future, given the projected increase in the number of cars over the next 20 years.

'Basically, we are probably reaching the stage where, in real terms, we are starting to run out of car parking capacity,' he said.

Mr Inman said Riverside car park was under-used and a linking bridge might increase its usage in the short and long-term. It was also a cheaper option than providing additional car parks.

Cllr Pat Warne said if the council was thinking of spending £90,000, it ought to 'bite the bullet' and consider building a second tier on the Abbey Rise car park.

But the committee was told such a car park, given the geography of Tavistock, would be very expensive to build and constrained to a narrow size, making it unpopular with drivers.

Cllr Ted Sherrell said the greatest attraction of Cllr Warne's idea was that this particular car park was close to the town centre.

'People have great problems with their legs — they won't walk,' said Cllr Sherrell, who was not convinced a bridge would increase usage of Riverside car park.

'I still think people will be trundling around the town centre looking for a car parking space,' he said.

Cllr Dick Eberlie said the problem of car parking should not be considered in isolation and urged an holistic approach to the issue.

He said: 'I support this, certainly, but I wouldn't have thought a decision should be taken until we have a fundamental review.'

The committee agreed to make enquiries of the Environment Agency and land owners Tavistock Town Council to see if they would be favourable to such a scheme, should the bridge project be established.