PLANS to demolish the old folks? rest room in Tavistock were put on hold this week, giving a stay of execution to the users who are campaigning to save the site. Proposals to knock down the building and redevelop the area in Duke Street for retail use have been temporarily withdrawn by owners Hunstrete Estates. West Devon Borough Council planning committee was due to discuss the application on Tuesday but the owners have requested further discussions with council officers. The news has delighted campaigners who signed a petition to save the rest room, which has provided comfort and companionship to the elderly of the town and surrounding district for more than 50 years. The rest room was built by public subscription in 1954 and is leased by Tavistock Town Council, which pays a peppercorn rent to Hunstrete Estates in an agreement that runs until April 2009. Supporters were so desperate to save the town centre facility for its present use that an application has been made to English Heritage to preserve the rest room as a listed building. At the rest room on Friday elderly people welcomed the news. Enid Gent, aged 79, a member of its management committee, said: ?This is absolutely marvellous. We come here every day and we want to do so in the future. This is good news indeed.? Kathleen Salter, 82, who regularly comes in with her friends Joan Pridham, 75, and Josephine Barnes, 89, from Cox Park in Gunnislake, said: ?We want it to stay as it is. We would not know where else to go without it. It?s so convenient and we think it would be a such shame to knock down such a lovely building.? Jack Wollacott from Armada Court, Tavistock, who has been a member for 15 years and uses the room three or four times a week, said: ?I think this is wonderful news not just for me but all my friends and people who use it.? Des Bluett, aged 72, from Bishopsmead and the chairman of Tavistock Old Age Pensioners, added: ?It has everything we need and in exactly the right place. We just don?t want to go anyway else.? Town and West Devon councillor Ted Sherrell who has backed the supporters said: ?My immediate reaction to this is one of delight ? it?s wonderful news. Hopefully, the future of this excellent community facility will now be assured for the foreseeable future.? But West Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox, who received a petition supporting its retention and also attended a sit-in last month, expressed caution. He said: ?We need to find out the true situation. I urge and encourage all parties concerned ? the members, the town council, the developers and the owners ? to to come together in good will to find a solution acceptable to all. ?I would remind them what we have here in Tavistock, that in this remarkable town the rest room is a precious resource, which is a part of the life and character of the community. ?If, however, it does mean that for the moment that the future of the rest room is assured then I will be celebrating.? David Mills, of D R Mills and Associates of Bath, the agent for Hunstrete Estates, said the plan had been withdrawn for more discussions to take place. He said: ?The scheme is still moving forward but we felt more discussions were needed between ourselves and the council.? Mr Mills denied that the temporary withdrawal of the plan had anything to do with strong local opposition.
