ratepayers of Tavistock may have been saved up to £55,000, after planners last week overturned a recommendation rejecting use of modern materials in the repair of theVictorian town hall ceiling. Tavistock Town Council, which owns the Grade II Listed building, wanted to replace the crumbling ceiling using steel laths and plaster. Members of West Devon Council?s planning committee heard the ceiling is not original, but was completely replaced several years ago. However, the traditional repair was defective, leading to sections of panels falling into the hall below. Planning officer Ed Persse told the committee that although it would be impossible to tell the difference between a traditional repair and a modern one, it would be ?inappropriate? to use modern methods in the listed building. Conservation officer Roger Duce told the committee: ?It?s a matter of principle that we should use appropriate and traditional materials on a Grade II Listed building. ?We lost the ceiling with the previous repairs ? we have the opportunity to restore the ceiling in its proper form, with the correct materials.? The committee was told English Heritage supported the view of the conservation officer. Cllr Roger Mathew, chairman of the committee, said he had a great deal of sympathy for the predicament facing the town council, but it was vital to protect the integrity of a building which was ?absolutely key? to the centre of Tavistock. ?It should have been done properly in the first place, and quite frankly there is no reason not to do it properly now,? he said. Chartered surveyor David Scott, who specialises in historic building work, said it would cost the town council an extra £38,000 to use traditional lath and plaster to restore the ceiling ? plus extra in terms of the time the building was out of use. He said he had used steel laths and plaster to replace ceilings in Grade I Listed houses in projects which had been paid for by English Heritage, so a precedent existed. Cllr Eaon Wager said: ?I feel sorry for the ratepayers of Tavistock who are going to foot a substantial bill ? I think it?s a disgrace ? we should think about them, more than what English Heritage says.? Cllr Dick Eberlie said it would cost the town council around £55,000 to use traditional methods, when time and loss of bookings of the hall were taken into account. He proposed the committee accept the council?s application, which was won by six votes to four. A separate application to underdraw the ceiling to make it safe ? the quickest and cheapest option at just £65,900 ? was deferred for further negotiations with the town council, English Heritage and the borough?s planning officers. Town clerk Roger Howard said: ?The good news is that we have now saved the ratepayers of Tavistock at least £50,000 already ? and we might save £100,000 if English Heritage play ball.? Work on the ceiling has now been postponed until January 2007.