A DISABLED Tavistock woman was unable to attend her friends' Register Office wedding on Saturday because the building's special lift was not available to get her up the stairs writes Alan Gregory.

Debbie Penwarden is suffering the effects of surgery on a malignant brain tumour and needs a wheel chair or Zimmer frame to get around.

She was particularly looking forward to the ceremony between Sharon Bellamy and Sid Buxton as she had only just come out of hospital again.

'I only came out of hospital on the Thursday. I was so happy that I was out and able to go, because they're both good friends of mine.

'I was really looking forward to it. My mum had even bought me a new outfit,' said Mrs Penwarden.

However, even to reach the Register Office on the ground floor of the Drake Road building involves one set of steps— the wedding was taking place in Tavistock Town Council chamber on the first floor, a further two flights.

Mrs Penwarden's mother told her she wouldn't be able to go because the lift wouldn't be available.

'I was really disappointed.

'I went to the wedding breakfast and I did enjoy myself, but the main part of the wedding is the wedding and I'm very disappointed I missed that,' she said.

'I don't think it's just me. There are other disabled people who want to get in the building. If the lift was paid for by public money then the public should be able to use it. I think they should make someone available for special occasions like this.'

Mrs Buxton said it was thoughts of the wedding that had helped her friend's recovery after a month in hospital.

Mrs Buxton's grandfather Charles, 83, was also unable to attend— she said they weren't warned about access difficulties.

'I thought it was ridiculous there weren't facilities for disabled people, you'd think that would be one of the first places they'd put them,' she said.

The Register Office occupies space rented by Devon County Council from the town council.

'Because the Register Office is just that — an office — and because marriages are a special thing, the town council does allow them to use the council chamber, which is a beautiful room,' said Rosie Kehoe, deputy town clerk.

'But it's up to the people who are getting married to use the Register Office if they have guests who can't climb the stairs.'

Mrs Kehoe said the Registrar did warn couples intending to use the Tavistock office that it did not have disabled access.

She said there was a stair climber, but it was only for councillors and people on council business, and then only if a trained operator was available.

'It's a matter of health and safety, insurance and people safety,' she said.