LONG-awaited repairs to the railings around Drake's Statue in Tavistock's Plymouth Road are one step closer to being started, following a meeting in the town last week.
Members of the town council's properties committee heard that Devon County Council has now agreed to pay for the work, which resulted from damage caused by large vehicles trying to negotiate a changed road layout around the statue. The county council changed the layout last spring because it said it would make the road safer.
Members of the town's properties committee heard that a quote had been obtained in the region of £3,870 to repair the railings, setting them back slightly, and to repair the lights.
The councillors were asked to consider what colour they would like the repaired railings painted.
Town clerk Roger Howard said: 'White shows the dirt very quickly. We have pictures from the 1920s clearly showing the railings in a darker colour .'
Cllr John Sellis proposed the railings be painted dark green — a similar colour to railings elsewhere in the town.
Cllr Mandy Govier questioned whether dark green might not be visible enough — but the committee was told that the county's highways department had no objection to the darker colour.
Members agreed the proposal — it is hoped the work can be carried out as soon as two further quotes have been supplied to the county council.