A BRAND new £13,000 attempt to brighten up Bedford Square could be grounded, after a packed public meeting in Tavistock on Monday heard that money granted by the South West Regional Development Agency would have to be matched funded.
News of the multi-million pound Market and Coastal Town Initiative funding rules came as a shock to town councillors at the meeting, although John Taylor, chairman of Tavistock Forward which spearheaded the Towns Alive action plan, still felt 'very positive' the Initiative would be good news for the area.
Representatives from local organisations, councils and businesses crowded Tavistock Methodist church hall to hear a presentation explaining the initiative by Paul Tucker from the Community Council of Devon — John Barkham of the RDA answered questions.
Town clerk Roger Howard said Mr Barkham had met with the council to explain the initiative.
'There was never any mention of 50 per cent matched funding having to be found. It will be a major difficulty,' he said.
The council was told by Mr Barkham that 'early win' plans could be submitted, and he had put together a bid for £13,000 for furnishings for Bedford Square.
'If we have to find matched funding it is dead,' said Mr Howard.
And he told representatives at the meeting it was no wonder so much grant money was not taken up when matched funding had to be found.
On the up side, he said it had been good to see so many people at the meeting.
Tavistock mayor Cllr Norma Woodcock said she hoped it was truly 'a real opportunity to bring some real money into Tavistock and the district', but shared the concerns that only 50 per cent funding would be available.
'This does assume the other 50 per cent is available from within the community. I am concerned where this money will come from,' she said.
But Mr Barkham said it was government legislation which insisted on matched funding.
However, Mr Taylor thought the Initiative was 'very encouraging'.
What his group wanted to do was make sure everyone's views were incorporated, he said.
'In Tavistock we have our Town Alive document and we're ready to go,' he said. 'I feel very positive.'
The aims of the Market Towns Initiative were to help communities plan their future and take plans forward, help them build skills, and provide a gateway to funding opportunities to 'make things happen'.
Only 25 per cent of market and coastal towns in the region would qualify to receive funding, Tavistock being one of these.
Funding would be in three stages, with £2,000 available immediately for arranging meetings. Some revenue and capital funding would also be available immediately to progress projects as a response to foot and mouth.
There would be up to £1 million to take forward projects identified by a strategic action plan — drawn up by a local committee which would decide on priority projects.
Mr Barkham said it was a five year action plan. The actual hinterland area would need to be defined to include places affected by Tavistock. Areas such as Bere Alston and Princetown should have a say, possibly by way of a mobile exhibition.
Representatives at the meeting were invited to express their interest in joining the steering group. Around 15 will be chosen by Mr Barkham to attend the initial meeting in October to oversee a community planning event.
There was a general view after the meeting that details had been 'vague' and that it felt like 'a step backwards' after all the work of Tavistock Forward, but there was hope that it would move forwards once the committee was in place.