A CONTROVERSIAL scheme to create a nightclub in a residential area of Tavistock has sparked a huge reaction from members of the public. Councillors say they have been inundated by comments from residents concerning the planning application for change of use for the King?s building in Pixon Lane by Tavistock Community Church. Cllr Ted Sherrell, who is backing a residents? campaign to oppose the plans, said the proposed nightclub was ?a big issue? and he had received dozens of letters and phone calls from worried residents. He said he was ?totally opposed? to the plans. ?It is simply a matter of being very much the wrong location. Within 100 yards of King?s there are scores of residents, including many elderly people, also families with young children. ?To have a nightclub running into the early hours at least three times a week, with the inevitable noise and possible rowdyism, is totally unacceptable,? he said. Cllr Mandy Govier, who sits on West Devon Borough Council?s planning committee, said reaction by the public to the plan had been ?very strong?. ?I?ve been inundated with letters, e-mails and phone calls ? people are very much opposed to it, although I have had one letter of support,? said Cllr Govier. ?I spent three hours on the phone two or three evenings last week speaking to people about it. Everywhere I go at the moment people are asking me what?s going to happen ? I got stopped three times in Somerfield last night.? Cllr Govier was among those who attended a heated public meeting at King?s on Sunday night called by Tavistock Community Church. Church leaders faced a hostile reception from residents who were concerned at the amount of notice given for the meeting. Some residents were angry that plans for a nightclub were already well under way by the time they heard about them. Crelake resident John Bradbury said: ?Why didn?t you come and tell residents to start with? If you had come and told the truth perhaps you would have had a better response from people who live within 35 metres of the place.? One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said she applauded what King?s was trying to do ? but she had serious concerns that the nightclub would attract customers from outside Tavistock, who did not share locals? respect for the town and its residents. She was also worried about up to 500 people leaving the club late at night, the subsequent noise levels and the fact the area could gain a reputation as ?a place of ill repute?. Lynne Bradbury said: ?I really appreciate what you are trying to do, but this is not the place for a nightclub ? that?s what we?re against. Surely you realise that already we have noise?? The church?s pastor, Colin Bond said: ?I understand the word nightclub is an emotive word that means different things to different people. ?Now the Crown has closed there is a problem, with many young people having nothing to do at the weekends. We said we would try to help, because we have the most secure and available building.? Mr Bond said he tried to follow the example of Jesus, in trying to help others. The King?s nightclub would be providing a service to the community. Vince Edwards, King?s treasurer, said if there was nowhere for young people in Tavistock to go, they would go into Plymouth and he dreaded to think what they would come up against. Mr Edwards said the church would install new air conditioning so doors or windows did not need to be open to let in fresh air. A secure fence and lockable gate, screened by new hawthorn bushes, would be built between King?s, Battery Lane and houses at Crelake, to keep clubbers away from houses ? they would be directed out through Pixon Lane car park between temporary barriers, marshalled by licensed, trained door staff armed with video cameras. ?We want to have a clean sheet from the start, and anyone drunk or disorderly would be banned,? said Mr Edwards. Licensee Andy Coad said noise levels within King?s would be monitored and people would be videoed as they left the club. He said: ?The whole King?s area will be covered by CCTV. We will come down very heavily on people who misbehave ? I would be an idiot to risk losing my licence.? Tavistock Community Church is seeking permission to run a nightclub on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The planning application is likely to be considered in Tavistock on July 19.
