WHILST I commend Mr Trew (Letters June 25) for protecting Tavistock ratepayers' money, I would like to point out that the old folk's rest room has been self-supporting for over 50 years.
It was built by public subscription, on land leased from the church authorities at a peppercorn rent, and ownership of the building was vested in the council, who paid the small rent and building insurance.
Due to the generosity of past residents of the town who donated, gifted and bequeathed money to the charity, the committee was able to invest favourably.
The interest from these investments has been used to repair, renovate and replace whenever needed in the rest room. This income was also used for the day to day running of the facility.
Nearly six years ago we learned that we could lose the rest room premises due to an omission on the part of a previous urban district council. After negotiating and spending money on advice together with the then town council, we were given a lease for a further five years, but the town council said then, if we had to vacate the premises they would give us somewhere else to operate from.
The lease was up at the beginning of this year and the town council advised us to vacate the premises in February, which we duly did. Since then we have been awaiting the input of the council who have now offered us Court Gate at a rental of £5,400 per annum with a six-year lease to be reviewed in three years.
As we have to renovate the interior of the building, a listed building, putting in disabled toilet, working kitchen and flooring, up to health and safety standards, add heating and lighting besides refurnishing and decorating at an estimated cost of £16,000 to £20,000 this is going to reduce our investment and therefore our interest payments which have been reduced already because of the present economic climate.
The town council has offered us a grant for this year of £1,900 which, offset against the rental, means the rest room have to pay a £3,500 rent which has to be paid from investments.
I hardly think this is the spirit of those who gave so generously in the past. The Tavistock old folk's rest room is an almost unique facility given to this town for the benefit of the over sixties.
It has been manned by volunteers who have given their time and efforts and support throughout the years, as have the trustees and committee members.
If we are to continue to provide a rest room in Tavistock we need to know that our investment of money into Court Gate is safe for many years to come, certainly for longer than six years. In fact, it would be good to know that we can continue at least until our money runs out, as it evidently will.
Denise T Bacon
Treasurer
Tavistock Old Folk's Rest Room