EXCITING new possibilities for the future use of Tavistock?s ancient Guildhall and police station have emerged during investigations by a top-flight consulting agency.

A police museum and multi-purpose visitor centre are being considered by DTZ Pieda Consulting, whose prestigious accounts include the world-famous Eden Project and Stonehenge.

Locally, the company was largely responsible for attracting considerable funding for the leisure centre at Roadford Lake.

The company visited Tavistock last week to brief the town council on the initial stage of the Guildhall feasibility study, which has been commissioned by Tavistock Forward.

Mark Scoot, regional director, said DTZ was working closely with the police authority, which owns the building, while they considered the most viable future use for the listed premises.

Mr Scoot said: ?We need to maintain the integrity of the building and maximise the value to the town ? that?s one of our main objectives.?

He said the police authority was looking to relocate from Tavistock and the force?s museum curator has proposed the current station, the second oldest in Britain, plus the Guildhall, be converted to form a museum and visitor attraction.

But Mr Scoot said research revealed this use, coupled with a ?courtroom experience? attraction, would not viably use the entire building

He said it would be better to use the police station and lower ground floor of the courtroom for this use, with courtroom and magistrates? retiring rooms used for an alternative purpose.

?It is our proposal that the tourism attraction offered by the Guildhall be centred around a food tourism product,? said Mr Scoot.

Interest in food and leisure had ?never been greater?, he said. Branded attractions like Cadbury World or the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company attracted thousands of visitors a year and although the Guildhall was considerably smaller, branded local food and drink, their production processes and related activities could provide a viable and wide-ranging use for the premises.

There could be celebrity chef-style demonstrations using a specially constructed kitchen, exhibition space, retail facilities and links with education establishments and other commercial outlets.

Funding for an outlet which featured and promoted locally produced goods could be available from major bodies.

In the long term, the Guildhall could be utilised as an interpretation centre in conjunction with other, ongoing projects; for example, the Heritage Lottery bid being prepared by Tamar Valley Services and the World Heritage Site bid being prepared by Cornwall County Council, on the basis of the global influences of mining in Cornwall and West Devon in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Tavistock, historically and geographically, provided an important ?gateway? to both projects.

Although some councillors had concerns about details of the feasibility study so far, Cllr Norma Woodcock, town mayor, said the potential for the police station and Guildhall was ?very exciting?.

The council, which was anxious the buildings were preserved for community use, looked forward to the next stage of the consultants? study, she added.

John Taylor, chairman of Tavistock Forward, said: ?We are pleased with the consultants? report so far, which has identified options to take the project forward, without prejudicing the ability of the building to be used for a visitor centre for the World Heritage bid in 2007.?

Mr Taylor said the Devon food project idea would link well with Tavistock and its surrounding agricultural hinterland.

DTZ Pieda have been working on the feasibility study since December. The final report, which will include financial viability research, planning and listed building issues and detailed plans, is due to be completed this summer, when it will be released for public consultation.