A CHOICE between a 180-year-old copper beech tree and improved visibility on a blind junction gave Tavistock's old Carmelite Monastery a brief stay of execution this week.
West Devon's planning committee was to consider granting permission for the demolition of the 100-year-old monastery in Watts Road, and erection of 15 houses with estate roads.
But the committee was told a tree surgeon's report received just before Tuesday's meeting stated the tree could not survive if the visibility splay went ahead.
Several other trees including a horse chestnut, an oak, two firs and another copper beech will also have to go if the development goes ahead.
Suzi Allen, the borough's principal landscape officer, said: 'It's worth preserving, it's a part of the history of Tavistock.
'We have lost a lot through disease, I think it would be a great loss to lose another one.'
Mrs Allen said the tree was a great feature because of the site's elevated position in the town — it would also help screen any development.
She said the road improvements and housing development would damage the roots of the beech, making it unsafe.
'It would probably just about hit the hospital,' she added.
Cllr Michael Pithouse described the junction as 'one of the top five danger spots in Tavistock'.
He said: 'I am very disappointed if a tree has to go, but lives must be the most important thing — there must be traffic management.'
Cllr Pithouse was also concerned about water run-off on the site, which he described as 'awesome'.
Planning chief Stephen Gill told councillors they had to consider which issue was most important.
'I honestly believe in this particular case it would be the best option to go back and visit the site and have a look at the access and this tree,' he said.
But Mr Gill said 'one way or the other' the site would eventually be developed, as outline planning consent had already been granted.
Members agreed to defer any decision until another site visit had been arranged.
The monastery closed in 1996 when the few remaining Carmelite nuns left Tavistock. The building has remained empty since then.
The closed order originally moved into Tavistock in 1922.
l A decision was deferred on an application by Plymouth Community Services NHS Trust to build a house on land at Mount Ford.
Councillors decided they needed a site meeting to view the wooded site behind Tavistock Hospital for themselves.
They will also invite representatives from South West Water and the highways department to attend in order to answer specific questions on access and drainage on site.