IT'S not over yet — despite an unsuccessful grant application to save the iconic Guildhall complex in Tavistock, members of the town council have said they will do 'whatever it takes' to bring it back. A grant application to the Heritage Lottery Fund to purchase the complex was rejected last month. Leaders of the project have expressed disappointment that the bid for nearly £1-million to create a gateway centre to the Cornwall and West Devon World Heritage Site was unsuccessful. The partnership scheme, led by Tavistock Town Council, aimed also to create a single access point for public and community service in the centre of town. The complex includes the former police station and fire station, magistrates' court and judges' chamber (Trowtes House). At the meetings of the town council's properties and finance and general purposes committees last Tuesday (July 8), members discussed the importance of the complex. Town mayor Cllr Harry Smith said the building needed to be retained in public ownership for public use: 'When people visit the town and the historic buildings, that is one of the iconic buildings they see. 'We should respond and deal with this challenge — there is work to be done and we need to do everything we can to obtain the building.' Cllr Philip Sanders said that the Guildhall complex was 'key to Tavistock'. He said: 'If we don't do everything we possibly can then we would have failed the people of Tavistock very badly.' Cllr Sanders added that the council should move fast as the owners of the Guildhall, Devon Historic Buildings Trust, had put the complex on the open market: 'If we are going to do something then we must do something quickly.' Cllr David Whitcomb said: 'There is interest in this property and we need to do something as quickly as possible.' The council has been given feedback from the Heritage Lottery Fund on why the bid was unsuccessful. The HLF has identified where the bid could be improved — mainly in relation to the importance the building complex has to the people of the town. If a second bid is approved then the complex could become a 'one stop centre' for people to visit the tourist information centre, meet their local councillors and possible meet their local neighbourhood police team. After the council meeting, chairman of the Tavistock Townscape Heritage Partnership John Taylor said that the Guildhall complex — the Eastern Gateway to the World Heritage Site — was important to Tavistock as it provided a focal point for the town and for visitors. 'It was a very competitive round of bids and we need to re-apply providing more detail of our proposals including emphasis on the community benefits and heritage learning. 'Our proposals recognise the importance of the buildings to the town and a real opportunity to boost the local economy through a well designed and resourced visitor interpretation centre celebrating the internationally recognised mining heritage of our town and surrounding areas. 'It would be absolutely wonderful if the town council were to acquire these buildings, as this would complete the jigsaw of the town council's ownership following their acquisition of the Bedford Estate over 100 years ago.' The bid proposal could still include restoration to the fabric of the Grade II Listed buildings to protect them from the elements and convert the ground and lower ground floor to a World Heritage Site interpretation/visitor centre. The former magistrates' court could still be retained and made available for a range of public uses, with the first floor providing space for public and community services to be delivered. Devon Historic Buildings Trust owns the building and has advertised the site since February. The site has planning permission for three residential units. The decision to submit a second bid to HLF was due to be ratified by full council on Tuesday, July 15.