TAVISTOCK Museum is looking to extend its premises at Court Gate into the librarian?s cottage. Town councillors discussed the proposals put forward by Tavistock and District Local History Society, which they estimate will cost around £60,000 to carry out, at their properties committee meeting last week. As well as general refurbishment and redecoration, key features of the proposals include a new main access from the Guildhall car park into the cottage; new reception, information and publications sales areas; disabled access to the ground floor and a new staircase to the first floor in the cottage. Cllr Ted Sherrell supported the plans: ?The history society has put forward solid proposals. It is a good position for the museum. They can access funds that we clearly cannot.? But Cllr Betty Batchelor was concerned that the society?s plans did not include disabled access to the first floor. ?I am not against it in principle, but I cannot accept the plans as they are at the moment,? she said. In a letter to the town clerk, secretary of the history society Roderick Martin said they would be willing to apply for the necessary grant but awarding agencies would only give it if there was reasonable certainty that the cottage remained part of the museum. He wrote: ?In practical terms this means that a lease arrangement for at least twelve years will be necessary between your council and the trustees on the same terms as for the present two rooms.? Vice-chairman of the properties committee Cllr David Best said that the cottage could be used for residential purposes and if they went with the proposals for the museum, they would be losing rent of £7,000 per year for 12 years. ?The town council would be losing money that could be used in other ways to benefit the town,? he said. But an estimate for renovating the cottage to habitable standards, to include a new bathroom, kitchen and redecoration is £20,000 to £25,000. The cottage cannot be let on a residential basis without undertaking such renovation, which is not allowed for in the town council?s budget for 2005/6. Cllr Sherrell said that while councillors had to make sure they received a viable financial return for the council tax payer they also had to consider community issues. ?It is the right time to go with the community side,? he said. Town mayor Jenny Metcalf agreed that community matters were very important especially during this Charter year. It is a wonderful central place for a museum,? she said. The properties committee agreed to the history society?s proposals and its decision was to be ratified at full counci as the Times went to press.