A HARD line is to be taken regarding vehicular use on Bedford Square by organisations using Tavistock Town Hall.

Councillors at last week?s meeting of the town?s finance committee heard the county council was very concerned at the safety issues raised by vehicles driving onto the square.

Members also believed that organisers of the annual book fair held in the town hall had threatened to find an alternative venue if they were not permitted to park on the square for unloading.

Cllr Roy Connelly stressed the regulations could not be relaxed, even for one event, because the situation could then easily snowball.

?They have the ability to unload using the loading bays ? there was an accident in Totnes where a pedestrian was killed and that?s why the authorities have been very adamant with the farmers? market ? they have to unload in a very disciplined way,? he said.

Cllr Jane Ramsey said vehicles using a pedestrian area like Bedford Square was very dangerous, particularly for disabled people.

?I have a deaf friend who just wouldn?t hear a car. Once you open the floodgates for one organisation, it wouldn?t stop.?

Cllr Norma Woodcock suggested the council could consider making an area available for people to store trollies for loading and unloading ? or even provide the trollies themselves. She also said the pannier market perimeter road could be used for unloading, which was even closer to the town hall.

Cllr Alison Clish-Green said: ?I think that?s a brilliant idea to provide a couple of trollies and make it known to people that they are there. I don?t suppose trollies would cost that much.?

The committee agreed a letter should be sent to the organisers of the book fair, stressing the accessibility of the town hall. A brief should also be provided for users of the hall, explaining the ban on vehicles on the square and informing them of where they could park to unload.