IT may not be 'home' for the regular users of the Old Folk's Rest Room in Tavistock but staff at the Anchorage Centre have certainly made them feel welcome in their 'temporary accommodation'.
The Rest Room, which has provided a shelter and meeting place in the town for anyone aged over 60, was forced to leave its Brook Street premises by February 22 — it had been its venue since it was built by public subscription in 1954.
Owners Hunstrete Estates Ltd recently lost an appeal to the planning inspectorate against a decision by West Devon Borough Council to refuse permission to demolish the building and build a retail shop in its place.
Attempts by the rest room committee to find a solution or a temporary tenure for Brook Street while future development is planned, have met no response from Hunstrete and they moved out on February 14.
Tavistock Town Council is hoping to find a more permanent home for the facility — with Court Gate at Bedford Square a possible venue. Planning permission is currently being sought.
In the meantime, the rest room is using the upper room at the Anchorage Centre, which is near to the bus station and has disabled access through ramps and a lift.
Nigel Hands, outreach co-ordinator for Tavistock Area Support Services, greeted the town mayor and mayoress Robin and Diana Pike, members of the rest room committee and their clients last week to their temporary home at the centre.
He said: 'Whilst it is very sad that the rest room has had to move location, both myself and my colleagues are delighted to be able to offer temporary facilities and extend a very warm welcome to their clients.'
Yvonne Meneer, the chairman of the rest room committee, added: 'We have had a wonderful welcome from Andy and Nigel and everyone at the Anchorage Centre; they have been absolutely marvellous. This is a real home from home.'
Cllr Pike told the Times: 'I would like to say many thanks to the Anchorage Centre and Andy Lyle and his team who generously offered this important service to the community.
'It's a shame that the rest room has had to move from its premises, especially as it was originally built by the community for the purpose of serving the old folks of the town.
'This is purely temporary and hopefully a more permanent venue will be found in three or four months at Court Gate.
'I would also like to thank Yvonne and her volunteers for doing so much to keep this important facility open.'
One regular user, Ron Lee, 77, from Tavistock, said: 'It's not ideal like Brook Street, because elderly people could do their shopping in the town and carry it there. I must say though, the staff at the Anchorage Centre have been very friendly. It's good that at least we have somewhere to meet.'
The rest room is open in the upper room of the Anchorage Centre on Wednesday and Thursday from 10am to 12.30pm and Friday from 10am to 1pm.