TAVISTOCK'S controversial Bedford Square scheme is under attack again.

Traders in the town claim it has led to a drop in profits. And a West Devon councillor has accused the borough of doing little to monitor the effects of the new development.

Traders Eddie Carruthers and Roger James have formed a new body called Tavistock Action Group.

Mr Carruthers, of Barkells in Duke Street said: 'Our continuing concern is about the knock-on effects of paving Bedford Square with apparently nothing being done by local authorities to monitor these problems.

'The only reason we formed this group is that we are fed up with the other groups not doing anything.

'Tavistock needs another group like it needs a hole in the head, but we all feel nobody is doing anything.'

Mr Carruthers said he had 'no doubt' that trade had 'dropped off dramatically' in Tavistock since the paving of Bedford Square.

'If nothing is done we will be calling for a parish poll,' he said.

Pannier market trader Roger James said he had canvassed 50 per cent of the town's businesses so far and 88 had joined.

Mr James said Tavistock Action Group would use local radio, press and TV to promote the town.

He said: 'We are desperately trying to put Tavistock back on the map.'

'For example, the Tavistock buses could be painted in different colours.'

And at Tuesday's town council meeting Cllr Pat Warne said monitoring the effects of changes in the square should have started three months ago — when the town and then the borough council called for officers to take action.

Cllr Warne, who is also a member of West Devon Council, said: 'There is ample evidence of not only a lack of action but also lack of interest from senior officers during and following meetings in recent months.'

She said monitoring was not on the agenda at the October meeting of the Bedford Square working group — a body of councillors, local traders and representatives of other organisations.

'Councillors have noted this inaction — they see it as a breach of the responsibilities of officers of Devon County Council and West Devon Borough Council, who are not acting on resolutions passed by elected councillors to ensure the well being of this town,' she said.

But her remarks were criticised by fellow town councillor Norma Woodcock.

Cllr Woodcock agreed monitoring was the key to progress after 'substantial change', but added: 'I don't think it behoves us as a town council to criticise other council officials. I don't think it's the right way or the polite way to do things,' she said.

Cllr Ken Sanders said information had been gathered over the last few months. 'You need to take it over a period of time,' he said.

Councillors agreed to call on borough members to ensure concerns about monitoring were respected.

David Incoll, borough chief executive, said: 'I went to the last meeting of the working group and we agreed various ways of monitoring it and I am collating that data.'

Mr Incoll said a period including summer was needed to analyse a wide range of figures, including car park useage.

'The main item at the next meeting is going to be reconstituting the group as a monitoring group. People needed to go back to their own organisations to make sure people are happy with that,' he added.