A DECISION not to increase funding for a desperately needed multi-million pound community sports and leisure development at Tavistock College was last week slammed during a meeting in the town. West Devon Borough Council's strategies and resources committee agreed £305,000 of the £420,000 the council is due to receive from housing giant Redrow, regarding its new development near Bishopsmead, should be earmarked for sports provision in Tavistock. But the remaining £115,000 should remain uncommitted 'for other community projects worthy of consideration, such as dentistry' — borough council officers were currently striving to attract an NHS dentist to be based at the council's offices, due to be redeveloped shortly, the committee was told. But the decision was criticised by Tavistock ward member Cllr Ted Sherrell: 'This is a sizeable sum of money from Redrow which is very welcome and I am pleased to see the commitment to Crowndale and to Tavistock College. 'Tavistock has long been the Cinderella when it comes to sports facilities — but I am at a loss to see why we should be encouraging dentists. 'NHS dentists should be funded by the NHS — we should not be putting this money into it.' Cllr Sherrell said as far as he was aware, the redevelopment of the Kilworthy Park offices was supposed to be self-financing. 'I would like to see more money being committed to Crowndale and the college — this situation has been running longer than the Mousetrap and it really needs to be brought forward to a conclusion. Talk of bringing in NHS dentists to me is not the right use of this money,' he said. Cllr Roy Connelly, a member of the college's board of governors, supported Cllr Sherrell. He said: 'This is a wider community provision — we are not just looking at Tavistock here. We will have an increase in the population with the Redrow development, this is a low cost venture — there are a lot of plusses for this scheme in my mind.' David Incoll, the council's chief executive, said the money being given to the borough by Redrow was in recognition of the increased pressure on facilities and infrastructure brought by about by extra people moving to the town. He understood there was no NHS dentist practising locally and thought many people would see the borough's desire to attract one to Tavistock would be a 'laudable ambition'. Nick Payne, the council's environment director, said the key word regarding the remaining £115,000 from the Redrow contribution was 'uncommitted'. The borough had already earmarked a 'very significant sum' towards sporting provision at the college site, he said. Financial support in attracting an NHS dentist to the Kilworthy Park site could be 'pivotal' although no figure could be put on how much support would be needed at this point in negotiations. Cllr Paul Ridgers was concerned who would pick up the tab for maintenance of the facilities once they were built. And Cllr Margaret Garton said it was important the facilities were fully accessible to the public. The committee agreed £305,000 from the Redrow contribution should be earmarked for sports development and moves should be made to ensure 'genuine community access' to the proposed sports facilities, plus active participation in its management by a nominated member of the council. The bulk of the Redrow contribution, £230,000, has been earmarked for the long-running Crowndale football project, with £75,000 allocated to the community college sports facilities. Planning applications for the sports centre development have been submitted which should be determined by the end of the year.
