A REQUEST by Tavistock Golf Club to exchange a piece of Whitchurch Down with landowner Tavistock Town Council has been given the thumbs down.

The club, which pays a peppercorn rent for its course, wants to swap a steeply sloping area of land it leases on the north west side of the course, for a flat area on the other side, near to the road to Warren's Cross.

The club also wishes to plant trees between the 18th fairway and a small practice area, providing a screen for walkers, and to change the way cars are parked behind the 18th green, at the top of Down Road.

Jonathan Coe, club secretary, said: 'At present, cars park on a nose to tail basis, and we would like to change this to herringbone style.

'We calculate this will create around 20 extra spaces, which can not only be used by golfers but by all users of the moor.

'The club would be willing to fund any reasonable costs to works carried out in this area.

'We feel both suggestions are beneficial not only to the club, but also the community, for all users of the moor.'

Members of the council's properties committee debated the requests at their meeting last week.

Councillors had no problem with the planting of trees, and the car parking suggestion was generally supported, although members wanted more information regarding the amount of land involved.

But many members were concerned about the land-swap.

Cllr Brian Trew said the two areas of land were completely different — the steeply sloping area 'only good for goats' and the flat area widely used by walkers and riders.

He said the golf club was not a charity, and only paid a tiny rent for its course — the council had a duty to the taxpayer to maximise its income and much more information should be offered by the golf course regarding the proposed swap.

Cllr John Sellis said: 'That area is used by a lot of people, there's a car park up the road from it and one just before it — the other area is very steep and only good for grazing — I just don't think we should entertain this.'

Cllr Sellis said the Whitchurch Commoners had also turned down the golf club's tree planting and car parking proposals.

He said the club should be providing 'far more specific' details and maps and recommended the council request these before any further action was taken.

Cllr Harry Smith said: 'One of these pieces of land is a very useful facility — the other isn't.

'I don't believe we should be swapping this land lightly, I think there's a lot more to it and this would be a facility that the people of Tavistock would be losing if we went ahead.'

The committee agreed the land-swap proposal should be rejected, but that dialogue should continue between the council and the club regarding their requests.