THE cash-strapped Tavistock Town Council has three years to find a new home following a survey which revealed it would cost £250,000 to update its offices to meet the stringent fire and disability regulations.

The Grade 11 listed Victorian three-floor building also houses the register office and the town's museum and they, too, will have to be found alternative premises.

An indicative budget is still being produced, but the total cost of building work, full fire precautions and lift installation is expected to be in the region of £250,000.

The disability regulations come into force at the end of December, 2003, and after that date it will be illegal to continue to use the building in Drake Road.

Town clerk Roger Howard said: 'As much as councillors love the building, they have thrown up their hands in horror at how much it will cost to carry out the necessary renovations and conversions.

'However, the structure of the building is much sounder than I thought.'

The town council needs room for several offices, a meeting and debating chamber and a strong room in which to lock up papers and its two valuable silver maces.

Mr Howard said there were a number of options open to the town council.

'The library next to the pannier market is coming up next year and we may look at the town hall. Most parish and town councils operate from their town hall, it is unusual not to.'

Although the library could be used in the short-term, most councillors felt the prime site could be redeveloped for community or commercial use said the town clerk.

'We don't want it to be a black hole — like the library, it needs to draw people in. Retail is, perhaps, a long-term option.'

Commenting on the report by surveyors Pearne and Proctor, Mayor of Tavistock, Judith Williams, who is also chairman of the town council redevelopment and refurbishment committee, told members last month that the information was not new.

If the town council moved out, then the ground lease could be sold off with consent for commercial or residential development said Mrs Williams.

'To achieve disability regulations so that people can visit or work is going to be so expensive so we have to be sensible about this. To spend money and still not meet the regulations would be foolish.

'We are starting to look for alternative venues but I will be very sad to lose the council chamber which is the correct setting for meetings.' Informal discussions are to take place with West Devon Borough Council's planning officers to see what redevelopment they will allow in the 5,000 square feet building.

'All offers are welcome — perhaps it could become a public house,'suggested the town clerk. 'It would be an awful shame if it was left to slowly rot.'