A FIGHT is on to secure the future of Tavistock?s much-loved Old Folks? Rest Room, under threat of closure following legal arguments over its lease renewal.
The prime town centre site, originally the setting for the Congregational Church, is owned by Hunstrete Industries but leased by the town council for just £5 a year.
But the 50-year lease is due to end in February 2004. It has a provision that it may be extended for a further 25 years at the same rental, if requested not less than 12 months before the run-out date.
Although the council made this request, it has run into legal problems.
Town clerk Roger Howard told this week?s meeting of the council?s properties committee that Hunstrete lawyers claimed a list of ?dilapidations? at the rest room invalidated the option to extend the lease.
Col Howard said: ?I think they have seen they are sitting on a gold mine and don?t want to renew their lease.
?We are fighting hard but I don?t have good vibes about it. I should think that particular piece of land would be worth a fortune, but I want councillors to be absolutely clear that it?s our lease, our building, which we allow the old folks to use. It?s our responsibility.?
Col Howard said the rest room committee had already put right the list of ?dilapidations? cited by the landlords.
?We are going ahead with trying to renew the lease, the dilapidations have been dealt with and I think the council would expect to fight this all the way to the end, even though it could cost us a lot of money,? said Col Howard.
Trustee and house officer for the Rest Room Committee Peter Boyce said the jobs which Hunstrete Industries asked to be completed were ?totally trivial?, including moss on the roof and flaking paint on a window, which, in the company?s view, rendered the building ?not tenantable?.
He said the repair work was completed within the timescale demanded, despite being given little notice.
?We put in a tremendous effort over three or four days ? I had four men working just to clear up these silly things ? in fact, we ended up doing a thorough job so that the place looks thoroughly new now.
?It would be a great pity if, after 50 years, a facility with something like 70 people coming in every Friday and then using town centre shops, would have to cease because of moss on the roof and some pointing on a 150-year-old wall,? said Mr Boyce.
?It?s well used, it?s a thriving community with more than 50 volunteer workers and we believe and hope the council will want it to continue.?
Dee Boyce, chairman of the Old Folks? Rest Room Committee, said: ?We have done absolutely everything the landlords asked for. It would be a great loss if we lost the lease ? it serves such a purpose.
?We even get people from abroad coming in ? as long as you are over 60, you can use it.?
Cllr Norma Woodcock, mayor of Tavistock, said: ?We hope desperately that this excellent facility, used by many in the town and by many visitors, should continue.
?Our lawyers are dealing with this on the basis that we hope to be able to retain the lease ? we recognise the rest room for the excellent service that it is, run by a very hard-working group of volunteers.?
Harry Gibbons, a spokesman for Hunstrete Industries, said he could make little comment on the matter at present.
?Hopefully we can come to an amicable agreement, but it?s an ongoing situation. Hopefully it can be resolved to the satisfaction of everyone,? said Mr Gibbons.
A meeting is to be held next week with the council, solicitors and lawyers to take the fight for the rest room lease forward.