THE public are being urged to have their say on the future of one of Tavistock's most famous landmarks at a special consultation event being held in the town next week.

The town's magistrates' court and police station were bought by the Devon Historic Buildings Trust last year.

The court has not been used since it closed in 2000 and the police station will become redundant once the new Tavistock Police Station is completed early next year.

A spokesman for the Devon Historic Buildings Trust said: 'We have had lots of people contacting us with ideas about what they think the building could be used for.

'People are very passionate about it.'

The spokesman said the Victorian building was a huge challenge which would need very careful handling.

The building itself is Grade II Listed and the interior of the magistrates court is also protected.

The spokesman said: 'I think a lot of people who haven't been inside it think it's a flat, lovely room, but it's full of steep steps, including steps down to the police station cells.

'Nobody went into this with the idea it was going to be easy, but we want to let people see what it's like, and to give us their ideas.'

The spokesman said even the tiered rows of benches within the court building were all Listed and there would be extensive discussions and negotiations with English Heritage and West Devon's conservation officer regarding which, if any of them, could be moved.

The consultation event will be held on Thursday, May 26, between 3pm and 7pm, in the magistrates' court itself.

Representatives from Devon Historic Buildings Trust, the police estates department and the architects involved in the project, Gillespie Yunnie, will be available to answer questions.

Visitors will be able to look around the court rooms and there will be information on the history of the building.

A suggestion box will be provided in which people can post their ideas and comments on the best future use for the building.

Alternative arrangements will be in place for anyone who is unable to access the building due to the stairs and steps.

The spokesman said: 'This is really a fact-finding exercise in which people can put forward their views and look around, as there must be many people who have never been inside the court.'

The DHBT has recently completed detailed surveys of the building and had structural reports drawn up on its condition.

The consultation exercise is the next step in the project to breathe new life into the historic group of buildings.

Once proposals for its future use have been decided upon, in consultation with other organisations such as English Heritage and the town and borough councils, funding will be sought to take the project forward.

'It's a long journey,' said the spokesman.

l Anyone who cannot attend the consultation at the Guildhall can also contact Devon Historic Buildings Trust at 22 Clyst Heath, Exeter, EX2 7TA.