THE Tavistock town mayor last week told a public meeting that the proposed closure of Harewood House was 'unpalatable'.

Mayor Cllr Harry Smith was responding to questions by concerned residents over the future of Harewood House at the annual town meeting last Wednesday.

Devon County Council has been consulting over plans to close the residential home and day care centre, in a bid to save £110-million over the next four years.

Dr David Benzie, whose father uses the facilities at Harewood, asked what the town council might do to resist the proposals of the closure by the county council.

He said: 'I want to know if the town councillors are as horrified about Devon County Council's proposals for Harewood House.

'I want to know what the town council might do to resist the proposals as the house is greatly valued in the town.'

In response, Cllr Smith said: 'The situation is that the service in Devon is in consultation — but the thought of losing Harewood House is something I find unpalatable.

'We as a council understand that cuts by Devon County Council have to be made but with a lot of hard work it may be possible to keep the service in Tavistock.'

County councillor Debo Sellis, who was in attendance at the meeting, said that no official decision had been made over the service's future.

She said: 'This is something that cannot be rushed and we have got to give genuine consideration to the proposal — we have to be level headed.

'I used to be a registered nurse so I do understand the true benefit that these centres have.'

Another member of the public, Brendan Burnett, commented on the closure and asked the council to lobby the Government for funding.

He said: 'When it came to the flooding in Somerset money was no object — the Government can find money if it is a crisis, but for these frail and elderly people in Harewood House this is a crisis!

'The council needs to press the Government to provide the resources for this crisis.'

Cllr Smith said: 'I move to write to the Government for money — but I can imagine the response!'

l The consultation regarding the proposals to close Harewood House ended yesterday (Wednesday) as the Times went to press.