IT is with interest and ultimately a sense of perplexity that I read the article entitled 'Thumbs up for heritage lottery bid' (Times, November 8)

I can see the importance of substantial financial investment in the pannier market because it is a thriving local commercial centre, popular with residents and visitors alike, and it is very much part of Tavistock's historic/architectural heritage — when opened in October 1862 the pannier market was a major part (along with the town hall) of the Bedford Estate's redevelopment of the centre of Tavistock, it is mentioned in Cherry and Pevsner's Devon: The Buildings of England (second edition, 1989) and it is listed as Grade II by English Heritage.

However, I cannot see the relative importance of committing to substantial financial investment in the auction rooms in Market Road because that building is not significant in terms of Tavistock's historic/architectural town centre  - as far as I am aware the auction rooms are not mentioned in Cherry and Pevsner's Devon: The Buildings of England and they have no listing by English Heritage.

When the lottery heritage bid was originally launched, proposals were mooted for funds to be directed towards the improvement of various buildings in the town's historic centre that are in need of repair and/or restoration (many of which are mentioned in Cherry and Pevsner's book and have a Grade II listing from English Heritage).

Surely it would be better for a proportion of the £2-million anticipated lottery funding to be invested in these buildings rather than the auction rooms.

B V Hicks

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