THE traditional Boxing Day meet in Tavistock will see a slight change of location this year.

The meet, organised by Spooner's and West Dartmoor Hunt, has been held on the highway on Bedford Square and Plymouth Road for many years but recently the hunt asked Tavistock Town Council for the event to be held in the Guildhall Car Park, off the highway.

In a letter to the council, the hunt organisers said the change would help overcome the marshalling, road closure issues and would take the horses and horse riders and the hounds off the highway.

The request to move the meet to the car park was considered but met with reservations from the town council. The discussion at the full council meeting of June 2 saw reference made to past practice and possible issues associated with opening and closing the car park at that time of year. But at the full council meeting on June 23 members felt that Bedford Square itself would be more suitable.

Landowners of Bedford Square, Devon County Council, said it had no objections over Spooner's and West Dartmoor Hunt using the area for the annual gathering.

Carl Hearn, clerk for Tavistock Town Council, which manages the land from the county council, said: 'We decided that we are happy for the hunt to use Bedford Square for the hunt and their dogs and they have already said they will clean up afterwards.'