HANDS off our toilets! That was the message during a packed public meeting in Tavistock on Monday night. Residents were given information about the implications for the town following its designation as a World Heritage Site ? and about the funding refusal which sparked the withdrawal of a plan to build a £1-million orientation centre by the River Tavy. But it was the future of the public loos in Guildhall Square which provoked most heated comments. There were cheers after town resident Alex Mettler launched an attack on plans to demolish the ageing toilet block and replace it with modern-style conveniences. Mr Mettler said: ?The main thing I think people are concerned about is the way these toilets are going to look. I think what people are saying is that the sense of place has been lost totally here.? Mr Mettler quoted from a report by English Heritage which stated the Gothic 19th century buildings were ?crucial? to the character and history of one of Devon?s premier towns. He questioned facts regarding modern toilet blocks, stating they were no less susceptible to vandals than older-style public conveniences. Town businessman Rob Mulliner said: ?Why could we not upgrade the toilets internally? Leave the fundamental external structure as it is.? A member of the town?s tree preservation group said the present toilet block ?fitted perfectly? with the architecture of the surrounding buildings and she could not see why the toilets were not simply upgraded. She also issued a plea on behalf of an ancient yew tree situated by the block. Lorraine D?Arcy said: ?The existing loos are great ? all they need is to be done up.? Former town mayor Gill Gorbutt said: ?I think the great strength of Tavistock is that it is unique in its history. There are so many towns that are beginning to look very similar to each other. ?We have great character here which I would love us to preserve for posterity ? we should hold on to our uniqueness and do the toilets so they look as much as they do now as possible.? Other residents issued requests that the trees around the Guildhall toilets were kept as far as possible. The proposed move for the town?s war memorial to the churchyard also provoked a heated response from some, who felt it was ?disrespectful to the dead? to move the memorial from its position outside the toilets. West Devon Borough Council?s Helen Dobby told the meeting that due to health and safety concerns, the toilets needed to be closed urgently. Leaks were affecting wiring within the building and there had already been one case where a member of the public had been injured due to the condition of the facilities. The meeting heard that opportunities to boost and protect the economy and landscape around Tavistock and the Tamar Valley following its designation as a World Heritage Site were huge. Already, work was being implemented thanks to a multi-million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund in recognition of the area?s mining heritage. Following the meeting, the borough council?s corporate director Nick Payne promised the views expressed by the public would be taken into account when deciding the future of the Guildhall toilets. Now that funding for a visitor centre, including new toilets, was not available, the borough and town councils had committed £150,000 towards toilet provision by the Guildhall, said Mr Payne. ?I am sure the passion of the meeting last night will be conveyed to all councillors very quickly ? we will be reporting back to the environment committee later this month on the basis of last night. ?We have to re-consider all the options and that will include some sort of re-use of the existing structure, although we would need considerable technical advice as to the extent to which we can do that,? he said.
