THE prominent bandstand in Tavistock's Meadows has been saved from demolition — but only just.

The bandstand is in need of repairs, which have been estimated at nearly £10,000.

Last month, the town council, which owns the bandstand, voted to investigate the cost of demolishing the structure or undertaking minimal 'cosmetic' repairs.

Cllr Ted Sherrell told last week's properties committee meeting that the council could not justify spending almost £5,000 on cosmetic repairs, set against an estimate of just over £2,000 for demolition.

Cllr Sherrell said: 'I don't want to be seen as a vandal, but with respect, the bandstand is not a great historical feature, it doesn't serve any useful purpose and it isn't particularly pleasing to the eye.

'I propose we demolish it, we have to take a decision here.'

Town mayor Norma Woodcock backed Cllr Sherrell's proposal.

She said she could understand the sentiment people attached to the bandstand, but it no longer served the purpose for which it had been built.

'It seems to me this is a difficult nettle to grasp, but it's one we need to do,' she said.

Cllr Caroline Keane suggested the bandstand could be remodelled, so it could be used for its original purpose.

But Cllr Peter Jones, who is also musical director of Stannary Brass Band, was not in favour of this idea.

He said old fashioned bandstands were designed for people to sit around and acoustically, they were 'no great shakes'. Such an idea would also be costly, he said.

But deputy mayor Jenny Metcalf argued strongly that the bandstand should be saved.

'I feel it's very drastic to demolish part of the ambience of Tavistock so quickly,' said Cllr Metcalf.

She said she knew of at least one event being held in the Meadows in the coming months, which would be using the bandstand as a focus.

'Could we delay a decision until after that occasion? I think it will cause an awful lot of distress if something ghastly happened to it before that particular date,' she said.

And Cllr David Best said although the bandstand was 'nothing to write home about', it meant a great deal to the people of the town.

'I have had so many people talk to me, saying it would be a terrible loss,' he said.

On the casting vote of the chairman, Cllr Sherrell's proposal to demolish the bandstand was lost and the committee agreed to delay a decision on its future until after Easter, during which time no money would be spent on its upkeep.

That decision will now go before the full meeting of the council on January 6.