A NEW day care centre for Tavistock could be provided at the site of Devon County Council's Harewood House as part of a redevelopment project with no cost to the taxpayer, it has been revealed this week.

As the consultation over the proposed closure of Harewood House residential home and day care centre draws to a close, a suggestion has been put forward to keep the much-loved facility where it is, albeit in a new, eco-friendly building.

The idea is being spearheaded by Tavistock architect Russell Baylis and planning consultant and former West Devon Borough planning officer Ed Persse, and is gathering support among campaigners who are fighting against the closure.

Harewood House sits on a large one acre site, but is under threat as part of the county council's bid to save £110-million over the next four years, because of cuts in government funding.

The council is re-thinking how it delivers day care services after seeing, what it says to be, a 66% drop in the numbers of people attending its day centres since 2005.

It is proposing to use private sector provision in the future.

But in Tavistock Harewood House is considered a lifeline for both the people who attend and their carers.

Ed Persse said using the existing planning mechanisms, if the Harewood House site was sold to a developer, it could be redeveloped with a new day care centre integral to the plan.

'If the county council decides to close Harewood House there will be a decision about what to do with the site,' he said.

'Instead of selling it to the highest bidder, we believe the day centre could be provided alongside a residential development as the developer's contribution to the community.'

Planning authorities, in this case West Devon Borough Council, ask for a financial contribution from developers when planning permissions are being considered for housing developments, supermarkets and other schemes.

They take the form of Section 106 agreements, which are legally binding.

Often these contributions go towards improvements to schools, roads, providing affordable housing and public transport links.

'The 1960s building is currently expensive to run — it is no longer what you would expect to see built,' said Mr Persse.

'A smaller, purpose- built day care centre as part of a redevelopment scheme is an alternative that we would like the county council to consider.

'This is an opportunity to save the day centre and keep it in a place that everybody knows, with easy access to the town centre.'

Architect Russell Baylis said the residential part of the scheme could be housing for the over 55s which would be entirely appropriate if there was a day care centre on site.

'This a prime site in the town centre and it clearly needs West Devon Borough Council to get on board with this idea,' he said.

'Day care should be top of the list if this site is redeveloped, it is very important to the people of Tavistock.'

Dr David Benzie, whose father uses the day care and residential facilities at Harewood House, said this was a vital community resource.

'I realise that Devon County Council is between a rock and a hard place with the huge cuts it has to make but we should be looking at creative solutions to these problems,' he said.

'Harewood House is a huge site so there are possibilities for redevelopment and we hope the county council will take this idea on board.'

A spokesperson for Devon County Council said: 'The current proposals for Harewood House focus on the continued provision of residential and day centre services from that building. 

'The proposals are not about the possible use the building or site might have in the future, which will be a consideration for another day. 

'Right now that's not what we're looking at.  Should that time come, consideration would be given to all possible options.'

The spokesperson added that no decision regarding Harewood House had been made yet, and one wouldn't be made until after the consultation had concluded on March 26.

Meanwhile, petitions are being raised objecting to closure proposals at Harewood.

One can be signed at the Spar shop in Ford Street, and there is an online petition at http://www.thepetitionsite.com">www.thepetitionsite.com

• Essential fire safety works at Harewood House are being implemented at the cost of just under £19,000, Devon County Council confirmed this week.

A spokesperson said: 'We are required by law to carry out fire assessments on all our buildings and the authority would be in breach of its statutory duty if appropriate remedial work to maintain safety systems wasn't carried out.'