A STUNNING visitor centre providing a key focal point for West Devon and East Cornwall's bid for World Heritage Status could be created in Tavistock.

But the scheme, which centres on the historic Guildhall and police station, must get crucial backing from the town council before it can move forward.

The idea to create the centre in the listed buildings is being promoted by Tavistock Forward, in close collaboration with the Tavistock and Villages Initiative group (TAVI).

Tavistock Forward was last year granted £5,000 by TAVI through the South West Regional Development Agency to commission a feasibility study into future uses of the Guildhall and police station, both of which are owned by Devon and Cornwall Police.

But Tavistock Forward needs a further £5,000 to get the study under way — a request which was deferred by the town council at its meeting last week.

John Taylor, chairman of Tavistock Forward, said it was vital the project was not delayed any further.

He said: 'We are talking about millions of pounds being invested in Tavistock, for the benefit of the people. Visitor numbers would quadruple — it's hugely important.

'The potential for this building is enormous. If it could be bought for the community and run by a community trust, it could form the basis for an interpretive museum, as a focal point of the World Heritage mining bid for West Devon and East Cornwall — I actually think this really is possible.

'It could also be linked with other aspects of our heritage, the Abbey, Drake — the potential is all there. The police are thinking of having a museum and that's another possibility.'

He said he appreciated £10,000 seemed a lot of money for a feasibility study, but to achieve grants from big organisations and government agencies, thorough professional documentation was required.

'At the end of the day if you are going to get serious funding , you need to have a really good report.'

Mr Taylor said Tavistock Forward had approached top experts in the field — one of which was involved in the Eden Project.

'The only reason that got off the ground was because the local council backed it initially,' said Mr Taylor. 'If our local council doesn't back this scheme, why should the RDA?'

He said a 'huge amount of work' had already gone into the project, identified as a top town priority following a public consultation exercise carried out by Tavistock Forward two years ago.

'We are in the first tranche of Market and Coastal Towns Initiative towns. There are 40 other market towns out there all wanting to join this process; the RDA are going to need to support some of these early win projects and in the context of Devon this is a fantastic opportunity.

'I can't think of another market town project that would be more ideally suited to fund.'

Town clerk Roger Howard confirmed there was £8,000 left in this year's budget for match-funded grant applications.

'Money was set aside at the behest of TAVI last year, who said there would be a need for this type of application this year — it's budgeted for and that's what it's there for,' he said.

Cllr Norma Woodcock, mayor of Tavistock, said: 'I am sure everybody recognises that the Guildhall is an important part of Tavistock's heritage and we are very anxious to see that whatever the new use for it, it should fit in.'

Cllr Woodcock said councillors deferred the application to allow more time to study background information, allowing them to make a decision at their next meeting on November 4.

Devon and Cornwall Police are currently in negotiations with West Devon Borough Council over a move to the council offices in Kilworthy Hill.

Tavistock Police Station is too small for their needs and the Guildhall ceased to be used as a magistrates court almost three years ago.

The borough council is a member of the World Heritage Site Partnership led by Cornwall County Council. It hopes to obtain international status for Cornwall and West Devon from UNESCO in recognition of the global technical influences sparked by the area's mining boom in the 19th century.

Its bid is due to be considered next spring.