ENFORCEMENT action still threatens Tavistock Town Council if it fails to find an alternative solution to hanging advertising banners between two of the town's historic buildings.

Officers from West Devon Borough Council met the town council last week, but as yet no proposal has been put together that is acceptable to both authorities.

The flying of banners between the town hall and Court Gate has met disapproval from the borough council, which has threatened enforcement action.

Borough council senior planning officer Edward Persse and conservation officer Graham Lawrence attended a plans meeting last week to discuss the issue and try to find an alternative sympathetic to the area.

Mr Persse highlighted the borough's concerns about the banners being attached to listed buildings and said as local authorities the councils should work together to enhance the area.

He said: 'We have had a number of ideas. We've talked about vertical banners on lamp-posts in Bedford Square, like the one outside Tavistock Library, with the town crest on one side and events on the other, which could be one solution.'

Cllr David Best pointed out that the town council had previously applied to have signs on lamp-posts but they were refused.

Several years ago the town council made a request for banners to be placed on street lamps in Bedford Square but it was refused by Devon County Council, which owns the area, after inspection of the Victorian lamp-posts showed they would be unable to withstand pressure from the wind if banners were attached.

It was suggested that advertising material could be fixed to a temporary structure, that the town council is investigating, in front of the town hall front door.

Mr Lawrence said Tavistock has been a World Heritage Site for two years and with that came the responsibility to 'lift and enhance' the area.

He said: 'The banners were only meant for high days and holidays, but they have essentially become a permanent fixture. They are up nearly every week.'

Members of the town council were concerned that to change the current and cost-effective advertising system would come at great cost to the authority. They felt in the great overall scheme of things there were more important issues in the town than flying banners.

Councillors decided to put the issue forward to a full council meeting.

Cllr Phillip Sanders said: 'We would suggest the banners are status quo and will remain there until there is another solution.'