IT has been a sad experience to read in your paper of the deterioration of what was once the much appreciated old folk's shelter and now, seemingly, to find that the town council is powerless to take any action to restore it. Although now occupied by the so-called Pearl Building, the whole site was for many years occupied by the very impressive Congregational Church. In 1953 I happened to be its treasurer and well remember that the piece of land, which the Huntstrete Estates are so anxious to sell, was actually given to the town for the purpose of erecting a suitable shelter for the more elderly people. Understandably, Huntstrete feel that the building is for them, superfluous, but still worth some money. However, one can but hope still that they will allow themselves to be persuaded into doing something worthwhile for the community and allow it to be restored for its original purpose. Lyall G Pierson Tavistock MOST of us can remember the closing of the Old Folks' Rest Room in Tavistock and also the demonstration in the town by the old folk, ably supported by MP Geoffrey Cox QC, who joined them, and had his photograph take by your newspaper. That was over four years ago. What hope? I rest my case. A Robb Tavistock ISN'T the concept of an 'Old Folks' Rest Room' for the 'over 60s' an outdated and insulting stereotype? I am 64 and resent the notion that I need somewhere to shuffle into for 'a cup of tea and a cake' after half an hour's stressful and exhausting shopping in Tavistock. Surely the facility would be put to much better use according to the needs of users? Certainly some of the elderly residents of the town may have need for a rest room, but also wheelchair users, the physically disabled and the obese may appreciate its use. Michael Wild Princetown