GET READY to party because celebrations are being planned to mark the Royal Wedding in April — and Tavistock residents are being asked to get their thinking caps on.

Up and down the country,­ street parties and special events are being organised to mark the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton and in Tavistock, £5,000 has been set aside by the town council for the celebrations.

Hopes are high that the wedding will stir up a similar community spirit to that of the 1977 Silver Jubilee, which marked the 25th anniversary of the Queen's accession to the throne.

But not everyone is in favour of having a celebration and some think the money should be spent on more needy causes in this harsh economic climate.

Town councillor Anne Johnson reminded her fellow councillors at a recent meeting that not all residents were royalists and some people may not want to attend such an event, or see public money spent on one.

She suggested a maximum of £3,000 should be set aside but her proposal fell and the finance committee of the town council agreed that £5,000 was an appropriate amount.

Town clerk Roger Howard said the council would be delighted to hear from members of the public who had suggestions for a Tavistock Royal Wedding party. Mr Howard and works superintendent Wayne Southall are investigating what can be provided for such a sum.

Mr Southall said the music and entertainment staged in Bedford Square for the Tavy Tour Party last September had been a huge success and on the back of this a music festival was being planned for the Meadows this summer.

But he warned that there would not be enough time to organise an event of this scale for the Royal Wedding on April 29.

A street party or a large screen on the town hall was suggested or making use of the pannier market if it was not open on that day.

Cllr Philip Sanders reminded members that other clubs and organisations in the town could well be organising their own events already, plus the outlying towns and villages.

'We will be in a competitive market, there's a lot of issues to look at, a lot of strands that need some brain-storming,' he said.

'And are we looking at putting on something for the community on a cost-neutral basis, or contributing to it, or doing something to bring money into the coffers?'

The Times went out on the streets for opinions on the big day. Tavistock resident Allen Lewis said he thought a community event was a great idea: 'We need something to celebrate — it's good for people and creates a feel-good factor. Let's have a party — I am a proper old royalist anyway!'

But Peter and Marianne Woom said they would prefer the money was used on something more worthy in these austere times.