I FEEL obliged to reply to the letter from B V Hicks (November 8) querying the proposed inclusion of the former Butcher's Hall, or as it has become known, the auction rooms, in the bid for the Tavistock Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) Scheme.

I do so as the chairman of the Tavistock Townscape Heritage Partnership (TTHP), which has been responsible for overseeing the submission of the bid for support from the Heritage Lottery referred to in the letter.

Can I first of all correct the writer? The Butcher's Hall was built circa 1860 for the 7th Duke of Bedford as part of the pannier market complex, which includes not only the pannier market itself, but also the Butcher's Hall and several other outbuildings. Furthermore, it is included on English Heritage's current List, as a Grade 2 listed building. Hence the basis of B V Hicks' objection to its inclusion in the bid is false.

Furthermore, the importance of the Butcher's Hall in terms of its potential to increase commercial activity and regenerate the town centre and its urgent need of attention are factors that weigh heavily in our favour when we are trying to secure this investment for Tavistock.

Should the writer or any other of your readers wish to find out anything more about this building, or indeed any other details of our bid proposal, members of the TTHP would be only too pleased to assist.

John Taylor