TAVISTOCK Company of Archers has been forced to find new premises for its winter practice sessions after 14 years of using the pannier market.

The club, which boasts national champions among its members, practiced twice a week in the market during winter.

But improvements in the market's layout and the planned erection of more lock-ups and stalls have meant they no longer have the space required for target practice.

The club this week said it had no alternative but to withdraw from the market, after discussions with councillors failed to find a solution.

Club chairman Mike Charlesworth said: 'It's a bit sad after 14 years. But the traders need to keep their stuff on the stalls overnight now, so we can't shoot around them.

'The problem with archery is you need a fair amount of space and in the new layout of the market it would be totally impractical.'

The club, which has almost 70 members, used to meet in the market for two-and-a-half hours on Tuesday and Friday evenings between September and May.

Mr Charlesworth said although the council had been generally supportive he was disappointed by the 'lack of notice' the club had been given.

He said: 'Our main gripe was the lack of notice we were given. We had no idea whatsoever that there was any problem with us using the market. It was completely out of the blue.'

He said Cllr Mandy Govier and mayor Norma Woodcock had been very helpful in trying to accommodate the club's needs.

Les James, secretary of the Company of Archers, was critical of the council's handling of the situation.

He said: 'There's been no communication at all. We told them back in April we were coming back in September. That's a long time for them to tell us there was a problem.'

The council told the archers in August there could be 'problems' with their continued use of the market — just a few weeks before the club was due to resume winter meetings.

The council cited changes to cleaning arrangements in the market and modern safety legislation which required a member of council staff to be present when the market was in use.

And a possible hike in charges for the club's use of the building had also been discussed at a meeting of the properties committee earlier this month.

Cllr Govier apologised to the archers for the short notice they were given over the market.

She said: 'Since the new council was elected in May and I was elected chairman of the market sub-committee in mid-July, there has been a stream of changes and improvements in the market.

'I am sorry that the archery club was overlooked during these changes as it was their summer, outdoor season.'

Cllr Govier said: 'It's a shame that this has happened, but due to the increased trading in the market it's not as safe as it was for them to shoot in there.

'When they came there 14 years ago, it was only a Friday market, but now it's every day except Sundays and Mondays. A lot of the traders are there every day, and are now leaving their stalls set up over night.

'The town council does its best to support minority sports like archery.'

The archers have already found a suitable venue at Tavistock College for one night a week but still need somewhere for their other weekly session.

During the summer they practice at Kelly Junior School.