A NEW orientation centre for Tavistock could be on the cards, following the Old Folk's Rest Room trustees' decision to stay at the Anchorage Centre.

Talks are ongoing about the possibility of using Court Gate — the town council-owned one-storey building which the rest room trustees rejected last month — and combining the facility with the current Tourist Information Centre.

Tavistock is considered an important 'gateway' to the Cornwall and Devon mining World Heritage Site and an orientation centre would provide a vital information point at the site's most easterly point.

Robert Plumb, West Devon Borough Council's regeneration officer and a member of the Interpreting Tavistock group, said: 'It's part of the proposals of the Tamar Valley Mining Heritage Project to have an orientation centre in Tavistock to signpost people to the Tamar Valley and profile the World Heritage Site.'

Mr Plumb said the original idea had been to build a completely new building by the River Tavy, near the Guildhall, but this scheme had proved too expensive.

'We have been looking at a range of options and the Tourist Information Centre was going to be integrated within that. This was always part of the proposals, to add value to the facility, rather than having two separate places.'

Mr Plumb said creating an orientation centre within the current TIC building, with its entrance in the pannier market precinct, was not an option.

'It's too restrictive in terms of its hours of operation, because the pannier market closes,' he said.

Mr Plumb said negotiations were now taking place with the town council regarding Court Gate.

'We are in discussions but it's very early days yet,' he said.

'I am hopeful — we have sufficient funds in the budget to cover this, and we need to deliver it by the end of next year.'

John Taylor, the chairman of Tavistock Forward, who is also a member of the same group, said: 'Court Gate does seem a logical place for an orientation centre. I think it's an excellent idea and a superb use of a wonderful building.'

Mr Taylor said he was not convinced Court Gate would be large enough for a combined Tourist Information Centre and orientation centre — but it was 'a good start' in boosting the profile of the World Heritage Site.

'I am very positive about this. I still don't think we are doing enough to promote the heritage site but this could complement a larger scheme at a later stage, hopefully using the Guildhall, should funds allow.'

Cllr Debo Sellis, a county, West Devon and town councillor, said: 'This is something we really need to look at.

It's very important to have something in the middle of the town centre to promote not only Tavistock, but the World Heritage Site.'

Tamar Valley Mining Heritage Project attracted almost £7-million-worth of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Objective 2 in 2006.

The money is paying for a variety of projects, including opening up trails within the Tamar Valley, further investment at Morwellham Quay and the establishment of the orientation centre in Tavistock.

The Tourist Information Centre premises are owned by Tavistock Town Council.

Tavistock Guildhall and the town's police station, both Grade II Listed, are owned by Devon and Cornwall Police Authority. The authority is hoping to build a new police station in Tavistock and is in negotiations regarding the purchase of land in Abbey Rise.

The Guildhall used to house the town's magistrates' court, but has remained unused since the end of 2000.