EXTENSIVE investment in Tavistock's Meadows, a town play park and redecoration of the town hall were just some of the achievements by Tavistock Town Council reported to this year's annual parish meeting.

Town mayor Mandy Govier said £50,000 had been spent on the creation of the new play park for 8 to 14-year-olds at Courtlands Road — much of the investment grant-funded.

She said: 'This was a wonderful example of local residents working in partnership with the council. Their input and co-operation was absolutely vital to getting this project to its successful conclusion.'

Cllr Govier said £53,000 had also been spent on re-laying one of the main paths through the Meadows.

'The Meadows has proved itself to be a very versatile space as it played host to several events this year.

'Attractive and accessible, we plan to encourage more events being held there.'

Cllr Govier said the new BMX track, being brought to fruition thanks to the 'sheer hard work' of local young people and youth leader Vicky Lloyd, should be in use by the end of June.

She said the town hall had been redecorated and refurbished and Christmas lighting was becoming more environmentally friendly, since the council had given the chamber of commerce £16,500 towards new energy-efficient bulbs.

The works department had streamlined its waste management by use of a compactor.

'This system was introduced to the pannier market along with a cardboard compressor, which compacts three full Biffa bins into approximately a square metre,' she said.

Cllr Govier said that despite the council having to tighten its belt due to the recession, it still intended to provide at least two new pieces of play equipment in the Meadows next year.

'We are looking to hold a national play day event on August 4 and to launch a Friends of the Meadows scheme at this time.'

She said this new group would be able to apply for grant funding to enhance the park, in a way the council, as a local authority, could not.

Other planned investments included the re-roofing of the auction rooms and market buildings at a cost of almost £90,000 and the installation of four additional street lights in Market Road. The council also had £45,000 available to give to local community organisations in the form of grants for 2010/2011.

Questions from the floor included the possibility of widening pavements in Callington Road, if West Devon's core strategy document was adopted, which allowed for 750 extra homes to be built on the west side of Tavistock.

The town's status as a market town was also queried.

Graham Kirkpatrick asked about the advertising banners outside the town hall and queried a proposal to use a moveable canopy at the hall entrance.

Alex Mettler asked about the recent redecoration of the town hall and said nothing had been done about loose stones at Betsy Grimbal's Tower, despite reporting the situation to the council.

Cllr Philip Sanders said it was still too early to say what the situation would be regarding Callington Road's pavements and that it was a county matter.

Cllr Govier said the council was still in negotiation with the borough council regarding advertising banners — the idea of using canopies was still being explored.

Town clerk Roger Howard said some painting work was still to take place on town centre buildings — he said works department staff had visited Betsy Grimbal's tower and were unable to find the loose stones, but suggested Mr Mettler meet them to clear any confusion.