SMOKERS in Tavistock?s Conservative Club will have to brave winter winds and rain to pursue their habit in coming months, after an awning fixed to the club?s outdoor balcony this week fell foul of planners. The awning, nailed to the front of the prominent Listed building in the centre of Tavistock?s conservation area without permission, has had its removal ordered by West Devon Borough Council?s planning department. The erection of the awning last week soon prompted complaints by members of the public. Tavistock resident Graham Kirkpatrick wrote to the Times: ?Bedford Square is surrounded by most attractive architecture. It is depressing to see one of the buildings defaced by a newly added plastic canopy on the first floor gallery ? a more insensitive treatment could not be devised for the building.? Cllr Ted Sherrell said the awning looked ?dire?. ?It looks absolutely awful ? it wouldn?t look in keeping with any building in the square, and certainly not a Listed one.? A spokesperson for West Devon Borough Council said officers visited the Conservative club premises last Friday and asked that the awning be taken down. The spokesperson said the erection was contrary to the 1990 planning act concerning Grade II Listed buildings and no planning permission existed for the awning. The spokesman said she understood the club had approached the council some months ago regarding the possibility of erecting a shelter for smokers above the balcony, which looks across historic Bedford Square. The borough?s conservation officer had advised them to ?explore the possibility? of an awning ? but that further discussion and a planning application would need to be submitted before taking any further action. She said enforcement action would be taken by the council if the awning was not removed. The Conservative Club declined to give a comment to the Times.
