AN IDEA to turn Tavistock Pannier Market into a Devon version of London’s Covent Garden appears to be in conflict with a major £2.2-million regeneration project for the town centre which is due to start this spring.

Tavistock Town Council and West Devon Borough Council said this week they wanted to make it clear that the comments in the Tavistock Times last week were the views of an individual and did not reflect the views of either council.

The views did not reflect the extensive work undertaken to secure and now deliver the Tavistock Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI), they said.

Tavistock resident Martin Hawkins was spearheading an idea entitled ‘Tavistock Imagined‘ to revive disused buildings surrounding the market and draw visitors into Tavistock.

The plan included glazing the perimeter road around the market, creating a balcony overlooking the river from Butcher’s Hall and the introduction of a micro brewery. Cafés, wine bar, street food and entertainment would be the focus.

But Tavistock town clerk Carl Hearn said this week there was already a substantial heritage and regeneration scheme in place for the town developed with borough, county and town council support and awarded Heritage Lottery Funding (HLF).

‘The shared vision of the town council, and a broadly based local heritage and business partnership, is to support and maintain the town’s World Heritage status and to promote regeneration, in this case through the repair and restoration of some of our town’s key assets thereby increasing trade and employment opportunities.

‘We have been working with the chamber of commerce, the borough council, Tavistock Heritage and HLF on this for some years now. 

‘Up to £2.2-million of investment has been secured for the THI project which, following the award of HLF funding in 2013 and public consultation in 2014, is now in the delivery phase with the first works expected this spring.’

The project is led by the town council with support from both the borough and county councils in partnership with the local business and heritage communities.

Public consultations have already taken place on the proposed schemes and all of the information can be found on the town council’s website.

Leader of West Devon Borough Council and town councillor Cllr Philip Sanders added: ‘As a strategic partner in the Tavistock THI, the borough council has already made a five- year commitment to the town council, which will see us contribute up to £50,000 to the scheme. 

‘The comments in the paper last week do not in any way reflect the views of West Devon Borough Council and in fact conflict with the council’s current position: which is to support the scheme already underway with the town council.

‘Tavistock is a very important town in our borough and our aspiration is to provide a visitor interpretation and a tourist information centre, which could see Tavistock become a critical gateway for visitors to Cornwall’s mining heritage.

‘The Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI), which was started in 2013, could see key buildings and land which is owned both by private landlords and the council play a crucial role in the regeneration of the town centre.’

These include the pannier market and former auction rooms (Butcher’s Hall), several other privately owned properties in the King Street, Market Street and West Street areas and some areas of public open space. 

Tavistock Mayor, Cllr Sue Bailey said: ‘The town council is proud to have led this process and expects the scheme to be able to safeguard and significantly enhance both the heritage and economy at the heart of our town.

The scheme also recognises the pannier market is the town’s unique selling point, both in terms of its commerce and historic environment and the opening up of the Butcher’s Hall will increase that offer.’

John Taylor, chairman of Tavistock Heritage, said: ‘Whilst we are open to new ideas, a great deal of work and consultation has already gone into developing exciting plans to renovate and restore the Guildhall as a dynamic new visitor centre which will act as a gateway to the World Heritage Site and increase visitor numbers to help support the local economy.

‘When the idea to use the former police station as a brewery was first mooted last October, we did discuss it, but we concluded that the proposal was not a feasible proposition, particularly bearing in mind the cramped nature and listing of the existing buildings!’

For anyone wanting to know more about the Tavistock Heritage Initiative they can visit the website www. tavistock.gov.uk