A MOMENTOUS move is on the cards for Tavistock Town Council which is likely to quit its 100-year-old offices for even older premises.

Councillors this week decided to commission a feasibility study concerning a move to Court Gate, the Listed council-owned building in the heart of town.

The present Victorian council buildings in Drake Road do not comply with new health and safety regulations — it would cost £250,000 to bring them up to standard by 2003, when the new rules come into force.

Options, including rental of offices at West Devon Borough Council and the library premises in the pannier market, have now been largely ruled out.

Cllr Norma Woodcock is keen to pursue a move to Court Gate, using the room rented by Tavistock Subscription Library, plus other rooms and Court Gate cottage next to the police station.

She felt it would be good to house the Subscription Library within the 'superb' new library premises being built in Plymouth Road where the books would be more widely available to the public.

Cllr John Wright, a member of the Subscription Library, said it was 'an institution which had outlived its usefulness' and recommended swift action regarding Court Gate.

He said: 'I really do feel this is the only sensible and practical option.

'We have been unable to obtain a satisfactory long-term tenant — I believe we should now make a move.'

Most of Court Gate was built around the same time as the town hall and Bedford Square and is Grade II Listed. The archway itself is Scheduled, originally part of Tavistock Abbey.

Town clerk Roger Howard said: 'Court Gate is actually in better condition than Drake Road. It has a little tower which lends itself to the installation of a lift for disabled access.

'There is a large chamber which used to be used for meetings and in the rest of the building we could fit offices and storerooms etc quite happily.'

Col Howard is instructing architects to come up with a feasibility study for Court Gate, which was bought from the Duke of Bedford in 1964 for £4,250.

Money for alterations would come from the sale of the present council offices. Col Howard said interest had already been shown in the Drake Road building although it was not yet formally on the market.

He said the council was in close contact with the Court Gate Cottage tenant about finding more appropriate accommodation — he also hoped offices would be made available for the registrar, who currently rents accommodation at Drake Road.

A meeting had been arranged with the Subscription Library committee, but unfortunately fell through, said Col Howard.

He is hopeful that English Heritage will permit internal alterations enabling Court Gate to be used.

He said: 'They appear to be more sympathetic about having to change things. You have to be pragmatic about these buildings. If they don't get used, they fall down eventually.

'Court Gate would be a super place to have the council. It's right in the centre, it's got the car park next door, it's a prestigious building — it would be lovely.'

Elspeth Henderson, English Heritage spokesman, said: 'It is always preferable for buildings to be used rather than left empty.

'We would obviously work with the council to achieve alterations that give them what they need, but keep the building's special interest and character.'