AN appeal for help was last week issued by a Tavistock sports club which claims its future is threatened following huge bills from South West Water for water leaks. The club is situated off Pixon Lane, to the rear of the livestock market car park. Club chairman Peter Walshe asked the town council what responsibility it had towards sports and leisure organisations using Pixon Lane car park: ?The squash club has suffered two major leaks which we consider are due to the poor maintenance of the surface of the Pixon Lane open space area. ?The council as landowner needs to improve the surface to stop these leaks taking place ? we know of other organisations who have also suffered leaks.? Club treasurer Robin Burdfield said during the first leakage incident, £7,113 worth of water was wasted. In accordance with its policy, South West Water waived this first bill, but the club now faced debts of around £1,500 following the second leak. He said: ?You can see this is potentially a catastrophic situation for us. ?Water can suddenly pour out under the ground and we know nothing about it ? we are in a very difficult position.? Mr Burdfield said the club had repaired a 40-metre stretch of pipework, but it feared for the future if further leaks occurred, requiring further repair work. ?I would ask this council to write to South West Water on our behalf, on the grounds we are a sports club and serve the community, to allow us off this bill so we can go forward without this hanging round our necks.? He said the leaks had occurred within 40 metres of the entrance to the car park ? in two separate places. Cllr Robin Pike said problems with leaks had occurred in Pixon Lane car park in the past. ?I think this needs to be ironed out,? he said. Cllr Betty Batchelor said: ?I am not saying we should take responsibility for this, but we must take these enquiries on board.? Town clerk Roger Howard said Pixon Lane car park was leased by Ward and Chowen. Col Howard said: ?It?s part of the cattle market complex, used as a lorry and car park and they have responsibility for maintaining it.? Col Howard said he had written to South West Water on behalf of the squash club, asking the company to waive the bill for the second leak as club officials had not been aware it had been occurring. Neil Woolcock, of Ward and Chowen, said although he had spoken to a member of the squash club committee some time ago, he was unaware repairs had been carried out in the car park. He said he sympathised with the squash club?s situation and urged committee members to contact him if they wished to discuss the situation further. A spokesman for South West Water said investigations into the two leaks were continuing and the company was in negotiations with the squash club to try and reach a solution to the problem.
