A PROJECT which could see a stunning regional visitor centre created in Tavistock's historic Guildhall and police station moved a step closer this week when the town council promised financial backing.

Tavistock Forward, which wants to commission a detailed feasibility study into the future use of the Listed town centre buildings, has been granted the £5,000 matched funding it needed to get the study under way.

The group believes a visitor centre in Tavistock could provide an important focal point in West Devon and East Cornwall's bid for World Heritage Status.

It has already been backed to the tune of £4,500 by the Tavistock and Villages Initiative (TAVI) and £500 from West Devon Borough Council.

Cllr Mandy Govier proposed the town council back the project. She said: 'I really feel it could be the best £5,000 we have ever spent. It could make the whole of that part of town a vibrant area — we have funding in the budget, we're very unlikely to have it next year and if we defer this, it's going to look like the council isn't interested in improving our community.'

Deputy mayor Jenny Metcalf said the study could be one of the most exciting things to happen in Tavistock for years.

'I feel we must go forward with this, it's an opportunity we can't afford to miss,' she said.

Cllr Robin Pike said the whole area around the Guildhall, including the council-owned Court Gate, should be covered by a study.

And Cllr Iain Andrews said there was huge potential for the police station and surrounding buildings — his only concern was the council spending money on a study into a building it did not own.

'It's almost like applying for planning permission on someone else's property when you aren't even sure they want to sell it,' he said.

But Cllr Ted Sherrell, while agreeing the future of the police-owned Guildhall was a vital project, urged financial prudence.

He said: 'My whole problem in this is one of money — £5,000 in the great sea of things isn't a lot, but the way our situation is now, it is.

'It would be great to have something positive done with this but number one, it isn't our building, and number two, due to financial constraints we labour under, we have to say with great regret we can't contribute to it.'

And Cllr Roy Connelly asked what the 'true position' was in terms of using the police station for a police museum or visitor centre, whether TAVI was able to move forward if the £5,000 was granted by the council and if the police authority even wanted to sell the building.

John Taylor, chairman of Tavistock Forward, said the police authority had already set up a 'police station replacement project' and a proper feasibility study would identify best use of the area.

He said the police were required to get 'best value' in their disposal of the building, but had already expressed a preference for it to be used to the benefit of the community.

Said Mr Taylor: 'Best value for that building isn't as a police museum. It needs other things around it.

'Museums on their own don't generate money. The police have said they would work with surveyors, they would work with us and help us, but they won't pay us to buy their building from them.'

Christopher Kirwin, chairman of TAVI, said the group was in a position to move forward to attract funding for a perceived future use of the Guildhall, provided a top class study had been carried out.

'We need a proper feasibility study because no money must be spent until we find out what the building could be capable of. That needs to be done at a highly professional level,' he said.

In a recorded vote, councillors voted by ten to five to grant Tavistock Forward £5,000.

The group will meet next week to decide which consultants will carry out the study. It should be completed within three months.

Devon and Cornwall Police are currently in negotiations with West Devon Council over a move to the council's offices in Kilworthy Hill.

The borough is a member of the World Heritage Site Partnership, striving to gain recognition from UNESCO for the region's global technical influences sparked by the area's mining boom in the 19th century. The bid is due to be considered next spring.