THE latest chapter in the development of Tavistock took place on Tuesday with the official opening of the town's new £1.6-million library complex.
The formal ceremony was carried out by the Marquess of Tavistock who unveiled a granite mooring stone at the canalside site — he described the new complex, named the Quay, as 'amazing'.
The Marquess, Marchioness and civic dignitaries were welcomed by mayor of West Devon Cllr Robin Pike.
He said it gave him 'great pleasure' to welcome the 60 invited guests to the Quay, built on the former Carr's Garage site in Plymouth Road and completed this spring.
He said: 'The Quay is a result of a great deal of work from many people working behind the scenes. It is an ideal example of just what can be achieved through working in partnership.'
Cllr Pike said it was appropriate that the Marquess was performing the opening ceremony, as the family's historic links with Tavistock were significant in the development of the town.
The 'far-sighted provision of affordable housing' in the form of Bedford Cottages was 'way ahead of its time', said Cllr Pike.
He hoped the provision of the new community facility would echo that vision — the visit of the Marquess and his wife 'set the seal' on the hard work and burning of the midnight oil which had accompanied the project.
The Marquess on unveiling the granite stone said the complex was 'amazing'.
'I think it looks incredibly impressive,' he said.
His wife said they were 'delighted' to be in Tavistock on such a special day.
She said the Marquess's family were 'incredibly proud' to bear the name of Tavistock and were 'thrilled' to be performing the opening ceremony.
Sir Simon Day, chairman of Devon County Council, presented the Marquess and Marchioness with a book and invited them to dedicate a 20-ft long mural in the lobby, created by art students from Tavistock College.
The guests were given a tour of the library by Lynn Osborne, the head of library and information services for the county council.
She said the library, which opened four weeks ago, was proving incredibly popular with residents in the Tavistock area.
'On the first day we opened we had 2,000 people through the doors — double the number from the old library. We now have more than 650 new readers registered,' she said.
She explained the different sections of the library, the computer network and the learning suite, occupied on Tuesday morning by WI members learning how to use the Internet.
There was also a tour of West Devon Homes' new offices, the rooms used by West Devon Care and Repair and Capita, which provides housing benefits, council tax and business rates services for West Devon Borough Council.
Tavistock mayor Cllr Norma Woodcock was very impressed by the complex.
'It's an enormous asset to the whole community of Tavistock, both as a library and as an in-town facility for the borough,' she said.
West Devon MP John Burnett said: 'I think it's a fantastic building and I am absolutely delighted with it, particularly the library.
'It's particularly heartening to see how many people, particularly the young, are using it and I think the mural is outstanding — it's creative, imaginative and apt.'
The Quay was spearheaded by the borough council in partnership with the county council, Devon and Cornwall Housing, West Devon Homes and Capita.
In addition to the new library and offices, ten new homes at affordable rents were provided for local people and a new canal bridge and walkway links the complex to the Wharf and the Meadows.
David Inman, borough deputy chief executive, said: 'We would like to think we have provided a really good social and visitor centre on an area that warranted redevelopment.'