A MOVE to scrap the Victorian bandstand in Tavistock?s Meadows was shelved by councillors at their meeting last week ? but the demolition could still be in the pipeline.
The council?s properties committee heard that it would cost more than £9,000 to repair timbers and renew the roof of the deteriorating building, which is no longer used as a bandstand as it is too small.
Cllr Ted Sherrell said he had sympathy with the sentiment that surrounded the old building ? but the council had to be realistic.
?I don?t know that we could ever justify spending nearly £10,000 of public funds on something that will never be used ? or only for late night booze-ups and as a training ground for graffiti artists,? he said.
Cllr Norma Woodcock, mayor of Tavistock, said she had ?as much affection as anyone? for the bandstand ? but times had changed and the council should face that fact.
She said: ?People?s leisure activities are different now. I know a lot of people will be sad to see it go, as will I. The lilypond went, the sandpit went, because activities have changed and reluctantly, we have to make a hard decision.?
Cllr Brian Trew stressed that if the bandstand was demolished, experts should be consulted to make sure there was no asbestos contained within it.
Cllr David Best said spending nearly £10,000 on repairing the bandstand could not be justified ? but suggested cosmetic repairs to make it look ?respectable? , provided safety was not being compromised.
Deputy mayor Cllr Jenny Metcalf objected to the demolition of the bandstand.
?As long as it?s not going to tumble down and hurt anybody I feel it would be far more sensible to leave it ? to remove it would remove part of the Victorian ambience of the town, which is extremely important for tourism,? she said.
And Cllr Iain Andrews felt there may be grants available to restore the building to its former glory.
The committee agreed that it would consider prices for basic cosmetic work on the bandstand and for its demolition, before a firm decision on its future was made.