A REQUEST for £5,000 worth of grant assistance to help fund a £30,000 consultant's conservation appraisal of Tavistock this week got the thumbs up at a meeting in the town. The go-ahead overturned a recommendation for refusal, made a week earlier by the town counil's finance committee. West Devon Borough Council had submitted an urgent request for the cash from the town council. The borough believes a new conservation management plan, which could cost up to £30,000, may assist it in its bid for up to £2-million from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Tavistock mayor Cllr Anne Johnson backed the request. She told the town's finance committee: 'I think it's time to assess where the town is. It is a town that has incredible historic importance. They are asking for £5,000 and the rest they will find elsewhere. 'It would provide a very comprehensive report to back future funding requests. 'They are talking about very large sums of money — I would be keen to support this.' Cllr Johnson said the council owned many historic buildings and knew the importance of looking after its heritage. But Cllr John Sellis was concerned the council had only recently rejected an application for a similar sum from local group Tavistock Forward. Cllr Sellis said: 'This is almost identical and it's all to do with employing consultants. 'I just don't think it's viable and I don't think the public would be too happy with it.' The committee backed Cllr Sellis's proposal to reject the application — but last week the full council rejected that recommendation. Cllr David Best said he was 'very concerned' that the town's North ward, which he represented, was 'not being very well conserved at all'. 'It's a disgrace in some places — I think to spend £5,000 on this would be money well spent,' he said. Cllr Mandy Govier said to refuse the application would be 'short-sighted'. 'This could ultimately bring a lot of money into the town. 'We've had all sorts of allegations we are not supporting the fact we have World Heritage Status — we have been a little bit remiss compared with Cornwall — we could have been raking it in. 'I personally think we should invest in this project because we will show we are committed to the honour of having a World Heritage inscription.' Deputy mayor Cllr Robin Pike said: 'If you don't use consultants you are not going to get the grants — it's a Catch 22 situation. 'I feel if we go with this we stand a better chance of getting the money and the fabric of this town will be maintained for a good few years to come.' The council backed Cllr Govier's proposal to approve the £5,000 grant. Robert Plumb, the borough council's regeneration officer, said he was 'delighted' at the news: 'I think it's really important that we move forward in partnership with the town concil. 'They will become an integral part of what we need to do in terms of improving and enhancing the heritage of Tavistock — I am very pleased.' Mr Plumb said the report Tavistock Townscape Heritage Partnership wanted to draw up was 'more than a single report' and related to the townscape and heritage of Tavistock as a conservation area, set within the context of its designation as a World Heritage Site. 'It would enable us to submit a proposal under the National Lottery's Townscape Heritage Initiative.' Mr Plumb said such funds would be available for a variety of uses. 'It could be used for physical improvements, maybe to historic or listed buildings that may be at risk, or to bring them back into use.'