A PROPOSAL to throw out a decision made by the previous Tavistock Town Council to retain and upgrade its ageing premises in Drake Road was quashed last week.

Members voted by 10-4 in favour of keeping the present council offices, and going ahead with a £260,000 redevelopment project in line with fire and disabled access regulations.

The decisive vote killed off a move by Liberal Democrat members to revoke the original decision to keep the premises, which was made in September 2001.

Cllr David Stapleton called for the decision to be postponed, while an informal meeting was arranged to fully review the decision of the previous council.

He said: ?The people of this town would hold the decision of the old council against us if we didn?t take this opportunity to review it.

?I think this matter has immense significance for the people of Tavistock, because the money for the refurbishment comes out of their pockets.

?It works out as something like £40 per person in the community, and it only benefits people like us, who use the chamber.?

And Cllr Martin Taylor questioned the soundness of the original decision, reached almost two years ago.

He said: ?I?ve read the relevant history and there seems to me to be one or two gaps in the way councillors came to their decisions.

?I understand the sum at the time for the work was under £200,000, but now it?s more than £250,000 and I don?t see that increase in the budget.?

Responding to Mr Taylor?s comments, town mayor Cllr Norma Woodcock, said: ?A full and democratic decision was made in proper and good order at an extraordinary meeting on September 11, 2001, that the building would be refurbished.?

Cllr Betty Bachelor said despite reservations about retaining Drake Road, she was satisfied that the original decision should stand.

?The library was definitely my first choice, when we looked at all the options,? she said. ?But it was felt that from a financial point of view, it would be better to stay here.

?I?m quite happy to have gone along with the decision made at the time.?

Cllr David Best pointed out any money spent on the renovation would easily be recouped in any future sale of the building.

And Cllr Iain Andrews said further delays would only push the costs up.

?If you defer any more, the cost would be more like £70 or £80 per person,? he said.

A date has yet to be set for the commencement of work on the Drake Road building, which will include installation of a lift and fire escape.