LAND on Tavistock?s Pixon Lane, currently used by cattle market lorries, is safe to be made into a pay and display car park, according to a mining survey. The land is owned by Tavistock Town Council, which commissioned the survey ahead of any possible future use of the land. The site is close to the former Crelake Mine. Town clerk Roger Howard said the survey had revealed the land was ?perfectly safe?. He said: ?There are no mine workings at this northern end, no loads or tunnels or anything. The only mine workings pass close to the very southern bit, nearer where the scout hut is.? Col Howard last week told members of the properties committee that the council?s forward planning group had recommended £143,500 should be earmarked for conversion of the land in next year?s budget, although he reminded members no formal resolution had yet been passed to give the car park plan the go-ahead. Cllr Ted Sherrell was concerned the money was already being set aside for a car park. He said: ?It?s a lot of money but is it money well spent? I think there?s a lot of discussion yet to be done to establish the principle that we need a car park. ?All the parking in Down Road isn?t going to disappear ? it would only disappear if that car park was to be free.? But Cllr Maxine Gibson said there were very few places in Tavistock where a new car park could be created. ?We desperately need that car park and I can?t see anywhere else we could put one,? she said. Cllr Robin Pike said: ?I think everybody is aware of the car parking problems in the town and it?s up to everybody that is in a position to do something to do what they can.?
