PROPOSALS for a £7-million investment on the outskirts of Tavistock this week sparked a warning from one of the town?s leading organisations. The scheme is for the construction of a large new DIY and garden centre on the prominent site, next to the main A386 into Tavistock. The vacant James Walker Moorflex building on Plymouth Road Industrial Estate would be demolished to make way for the new Focus store, which would be almost double the size of the existing outlet, presently situated further into the industrial estate. Planning applications have been submitted to West Devon Borough Council by Hertfordshire-based development company Marchfield Investments Ltd. But John Taylor, chairman of Tavistock Forward, said he feared the move would be detrimental, reducing the town to a Plymouth ?dormitory?. A spokesman for Marchfield said the existing Focus store in Tavistock was one of the company?s smallest and oldest outlets in the country. The spokesman said: ?Its size means that it is unable to meet in full the requirements of its customers in Tavistock and the surrounding villages. ?The lack of space and range of products means that people who should be shopping in Tavistock for their DIY and gardening needs are travelling to competing centres, most notably Plymouth ?The relocation to the Moorflex site means a larger, modern store can be provided for local people.? He said the new 2,322 sq metre store would also have 113 car parking spaces. Marchfield have submitted two applications to the council ? one for the relocation of Focus and the other for change of use of the existing Focus site from retail to employment use. The second application also seeks permission to divide the existing store into two units. The spokesman said: ?We believe there is a demand for this sort of development and that it would fit in well with existing businesses on the estate.? He said that provided West Devon grant planning consent, the James Walker Moorflex building would be demolished first, followed by the building of the new store. The existing Focus would continue trading and move to the new building on completion. At this stage, the current Focus store would be divided to form two employment units. Jonathan James, Marchfield Investments director, said: ?We believe our planning application is well thought out and, when fully developed, will be a useful addition to the town?s retail and employment life.? But John Taylor said he hoped the borough would reject the application: ?I think this is quite a worry actually. We have already lost employment land at Superwinch, Carr?s Garage, Abbey Garage, Radmores ? now this site could be lost too. ?I think the planning authority needs to look at its long-term policies. What we ought to do is get another firm in there, rather than use it for retail. ?The danger is we become a dormitory for Plymouth ? it would also be detrimental for smaller traders in the town.? Tim Beavon, West Devon?s economic, leisure and development head, admitted there was a shortage of employment land in Tavistock. ?It?s encouraging the applicants are at least intending to return their existing unit to employment land and not seeking to keep it as retail,? said Mr Beavon. ?We need to make sure we don?t lose out on employment opportunities, we have to keep a balance but provide as many opportunities as we can.? The application is not likely to be considered by the planning committee before August.
