TAVISTOCK's Meadows could be patrolled by a new park attendant in the future — a suggestion which arose during a meeting in the town last week.

Cllr Sue Bailey, chairman of the town council's properties committee, asked members to consider the idea, after witnessing a variety of undesirable situations in the park recently.

'Last weekend when I went down there, there were children playing and there were bags scattered all around — someone had actually emptied out the dog waste bin,' said Cllr Bailey.

'I would like us to think about the idea of having a part time attendant in the Meadows, specially through the school holidays.

'It's an old fashioned idea, but it worked in the past and it could work now.'

Cllr Ted Sherrell said: 'This is something that has been mooted in the past, but it never happened.

'In theory it's a first class idea.'

Cllr Debo Sellis asked what powers a member of the council's staff would have, if such a position was to be created.

Town clerk Roger Howard told the committee that by-laws had been in force in the town's parks and open spaces for some time, and that members of staff would have the power of arrest in the case of those laws being flouted, and the offender could then be taken to court where appropriate.

Cllr David Whitcomb, the town mayor, gave the idea '100% backing'.

He said: 'I know some of you do not live near the Meadows — I unfortunately do and it does need controlling in there. It's usually only minor things, but they do cost us money.'

The committee agreed the suggestion should be included on the agenda for its next meeting.