THE re-alignment of Market Road in Tavistock was given the thumbs up by councillors last week, paving the way for a new visitor centre and toilets near Guildhall Square. The town council?s properties committee heard that revised drawings had been drawn up for the scheme, which was part of the Tamar Valley Mining Heritage Project. The project is awaiting confirmation of a substantial funding package. If the bid is successful, it could provide a hi-tech interpretation centre on the banks of the River Tavy which would act as a gateway to the Tamar Valley Heritage Project ? and the area covered by the West Devon and Cornwall Mining World Heritage site bid. But the scheme can only go ahead if Market Road is re-aligned to allow more land adjacent to the river bank. Town mayor Cllr Caroline Keane said: ? I think this is very imaginative and will be very good for the town ? but it must be presented to the public in an acceptable way.? She said it was ?very important? there was adequate consultation before the project went ?speeding ahead?. Cllr Norma Woodcock said the heritage project was ?very exciting? and would provide a range of benefits for the town: ?We are getting two extra parking spaces through the re-alignment of the road, the move of the war memorial to the churchyard is being encompassed by it and it will also open up Guildhall Square.? She said now more details were emerging, further consultation with the public would take place and she was confident the process was being extremely well managed by West Devon Borough Council and the Tamar Valley Service. Cllr Ted Sherrell said it was ?crucial? that public toilets should continue to be provided on the site. Cllr Mandy Govier said whatever happened to the bid for the interpretation centre, the town would get new toilets in the Guildhall area. She said the present ones were ?downright dangerous? and were due to be closed down. Cllr Govier said an exhibition of the proposals was being prepared to be staged at Tavistock College and at the library. Cllr Brian Trew said the revised plans were a great improvement on the original design the council had been shown. ?These ones I like a lot, the first one I thought was a carbuncle stuck next to the court,? said Cllr Trew. The committee agreed unanimously to a proposal from the borough to rationalise land ownership in the area, which would allow the project to go forward. The decision was due to be ratified by the full council at its meeting on Tuesday night.
