PARKING provision and grants for local organisations went under the spotlight at the annual town meeting in Tavistock Town Hall last Tuesday. Tavistock Forward chairman John Taylor made a plea to the town council to uphold its objective to ?retain and improve? car parking facilities by working in partnership with West Devon Council and the county council. He said: ?I went to a recent meeting chaired by West Devon, where there were representatives from the business community. I understand there have been proposals to bring Pixon Lane car park into use. ?As far as Tavistock Forward is concerned, we are very keen to see more parking provided in the town, but at that particular meeting, the town clerk said it was the town council?s view that there was sufficient car parking in town already. ?I have to say the business community begs to differ ? could you please work with West Devon and Devon County Council to provide additional parking in Pixon Lane? ?This could be the site where the workers in the town could park, to free up other areas ? please, please work with the other authorities.? Mr Taylor also requested the town council, which had a gross annual income of £1.2-million, to approve more grants to local voluntary groups and organisations. He believed that as a percentage of the council?s income, the grant figure was ?very low? in comparison with other towns. Cllr Norma Woodcock told Mr Taylor the council last week decided to consider options regarding the creation of a proper car park on its land in Pixon Lane, by doing the work ?in-house?. She said the land was ?extremely valuable? and the council felt it should remain ?absolutely and fundamentally? under its control, for the good of the town. ?Please assure the business community that the town council has got this in hand,? she said. Cllr Woodcock said as far as grants were concerned, the town council did indeed have an exceptionally high income for a parish council ? but it also held one of the biggest historic buildings portfolio of any parish council. ?As our works superintendent could tell you, you only have to look at the maintenance costs needed to keep these buildings in pristine condition ? you have to consider that before you can say we have a lot of money.? Cllr Woodcock said the council also had to work hard to keep its precept to an acceptable level. Town mayor Cllr Jenny Metcalf told the meeting the last year, her second as mayor, had been marked by the splendid celebrations marking the 900th anniversary of the granting of the town?s market charter. She paid tribute to the town?s charter group for its hard work in making it a year to remember. She said the pannier market continued to thrive against a downward trend elsewhere and congratulated the traders and market staff on their achievements. Tavistock continued to host a huge variety of events, thanks to the dedication of its many community groups, and was now anxiously waiting to find out if it had been successful in the competition to find the best food town in the South West, said Cllr Metcalf. ?Basically, thank you to everybody for all you have done to keep the wheels of Tavistock, our beautiful town, running smoothly,? she said.