A NEW SITE is being championed as a prime location for Tavistock's long-awaited new police station — but it lies in the hands of West Devon Borough Council.

The police, who have been looking for a new site for a number of years, have expressed a strong interest in land at Pixon Lane which is currently home to some old industrial sheds.

The land and buildings are owned by the borough council — it will decide at a meeting next week whether it wants to sell the land now or lease it for three years until market conditions improve.

Police are still in negotiations with Sainsbury's to secure premises as part of its supermarket development in Plymouth Road should planning permission be granted on appeal. However, the police stated that its preferred site was Pixon Lane.

Head of estates at Devon and Cornwall Constabulary Andy Morris said: 'Tavistock Police Station has been programmed for replacement for a considerable period of time.

'Whilst the existing building has a façade that would befit a picture postcard, internally it no longer meets modern policing needs.

'The current strategy for Tavistock is twofold; firstly, to provide a neighbourhood beat base/shop front in a town centre location, preferably co-located with a public sector partner; secondly, to provide a modern patrol base for response policing positioned on the outskirts of town.

'In recent years we have carried out a number of land searches to identify possible sites for the patrol base and have recently been made aware of a suitable site of interest that is in the ownership of West Devon Borough Council.

'We are currently working with our public sector partner to try to establish if there is an agreeable way forward, whilst continuing to explore other opportunities.'

In a report going to next Tuesday's borough council strategies and resources committee, head of community and economic development Tim Beavon said it was highly likely that other parties would be interested in purchasing the site. If the committee decided to go down this route, he strongly recommended that a marketing exercise was carried out to give any interested parties the opportunity to put forward proposals.

Borough councillor Chris Jenkins, who represents the Tavistock South ward, said this site would have to be developed from scratch and would be subject to planning permission.

'As a location this would be pretty good for the police because it is close to the town centre and is easy to get to by walking across the Meadows.

'It is potentially a more sustainable location than somewhere out of town like the supermarket proposal site.'

Mr Jenkins said in the current economic climate it was not a great time to dispose of anything but if Devon and Cornwall Police came up with a sensible offer it would be worthwhile looking at it.

The existing police station and Guildhall was built in 1847 by the 7th Duke of Bedford. It is the oldest police station in the West Country and the second oldest in England.

This was in spite of the fact that once the new Devon Constabulary had been formed in 1856 the town's policing requirements were provided by the county force and the Tavistock Borough force was disbanded.

A statue of the generous Duke stands in the station car park as a fitting memorial.