FEARS for the viability of Tavistock Town Hall were voiced by council staff last week, following traffic orders banning all vehicles from Bedford Square.

The new orders mean cars can only use the loading bays to service the town hall and pannier market, as opposed to driving onto the paved area to unload.

Town hall supervisor Bob Cridland told the council's properties committee the loading bays in the square were not adequate for traders attending events in the hall.

The restrictions also meant goods or equipment, sometimes large and heavy, would have to be trundled across the square, occasionally through other events like the farmers' market.

Mr Cridland said: 'The future of the town hall as a venue for so many events could now be in the balance.

'Are the public really more at risk from vehicles on the square than in local car parks — particularly those car parks with ice cream vans situated on them?'

Cllr Jenny Metcalf, deputy mayor, agreed. She said: 'It does present quite a lot of difficulties for weddings, if the caterers have to carry all their stuff over the square, or the bride has to trip through the farmers' market.'

Cllr Metcalf was also concerned the new restrictions made access to the town hall more difficult for disabled people.

Town clerk Roger Howard said Devon County Council was not so opposed to the movement of vehicles on the square as the Home Office and the police.

'They are quite adamant they see it as a danger to public safety and they will not allow any vehicles on the square at any time,' he said.

Cllr Robin Pike suggested the council write to the Home Secretary, flagging up the fact that Tavistock had topped the recent national CPRE poll of market towns and that any threat to the town hall or market as a result of the traffic orders was a backwards move.

Mayor Norma Woodcock said: 'When Bedford Square was enhanced, we were given an absolute, clear undertaking that there should be no prejudice to the business or operation of the town hall or pannier market because of the paving in the square.'

She said the council should be prepared to give the new parking orders a few months to see how they worked, but to go back to the police and county council if problems were identified.

Cllr David Best said he thought loading and unloading facilities were 'pretty good' in comparison with many other towns.

'We should give it a few months to see how it goes. If we do run into any problems, we can take it up at that stage,' he said.

Cllr Mandy Govier said the market reeve was happy to open the pannier market perimeter road on Sundays so traders could unload closer to the town hall — there should be more teamwork and communication between staff members, she said.

Members were told the market gates could be unlocked in the evenings if necessary.

It was agreed to keep a watchful eye on the situation for the next three months and that more loading bays be provided in the perimeter road.