A PROPOSAL to take on responsibility for the old steps between Trelawney Road and Kilworthy Hill in Tavistock was last week given the thumbs down by Tavistock Town Council.
The suggestion the council should adopt the steps came from the Bedford Estate, which was prepared to pass on a ?dowry? for the management and maintenance of the steps.
But the council?s surveyors, Drew Pearce, have advised the move would be a bad one, even with the ?dowry?.
John Daborn, of Drew Pearce, said the last refurbishment of the steps cost almost £10,000 ? in addition, if the council took on this responsibility, it would be liable for damage caused to any person injured while using the steps.
He said there was also a question concerning ownership of the bank adjacent to the steps.
Mr Daborn said: ?All in all I can see no benefit to the town council and even if a dowry was paid, it would be extremely difficult to assess what this figure should be in perpetuity.?
He said West Devon Borough Council was also given the opportunity to take the steps over ? an offer which was also turned down.
Cllr Iain Andrews proposed the council reject the idea. He said the ?dowry? was insufficient and the third party liability issue was an obvious area of concern.
His proposal was backed by town mayor Cllr Norma Woodcock.
The town clerk was instructed to write and inform the Bedford Estate of its decision.