THE annual Tavy 7 race, run by Tavistock Athletic Club, is under threat, following a decision not to allow athletes to run across town council-owned land on Whitchurch Down.

The race, which attracts hundreds of athletes from throughout Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, is held on Remembrance Sunday.

Last year, there were many complaints after the tannoy announcements cut into the church service and traditional silence being held in nearby Whitchurch.

Following the complaints, the town council decided holding the event at such a sensitive time was inappropriate, and withdrew permission to use its land on Whitchurch Down.

But in a letter to the council, athletic club chairman Allan Herdman urged the council to re-consider.

Mr Herdman said the club had tried to re-arrange the date but could not avoid a clash with other well-established events in the race calendar. He said the club was doing everything it could to avoid any problems regarding the tannoy system, which included full consultation with the church.

Mr Herdman told the Times: 'We did upset some people, not deliberately, but very regrettably, and we have tried to make our peace with everyone.'

The plea to re-consider was discussed by members of the council's properties committee at its meeting last week.

Cllr John Sellis said: 'I think we must stick to what we said — it's never been the right time to hold this race.

'It affects people going to church in Whitchurch, as they use the cricket club for parking and that section of road is always full of people for about an hour before the race.

'This problem has been rumbling on for ten years and I just don't think it's the right time to hold it.'

Cllr Debo Sellis said the race was a 'very emotive' issue and she had received very heated complaints after last year's event.

Town mayor David Whitcomb said: 'If the council has said no, we have made that decision and we should stick with it.'

The comittee agreed — the decision was due to be ratified by the full council at its meeting on Tuesday night.

Mr Herdman said he was 'very disappointed' at the news.

He said the club was currently considering two options — to start and finish the race from a different venue on the moor, or to cancel it altogether.

'If we have to do the latter it will come as a blow to us, because by holding the race we raise valuable revenue, which goes towards our contribution to the running track at Tavistock College,' he said.