THE historic Court Gate building is being considered as a possible new home for Tavistock Town Council.

The present council chamber, 100 years old and considered too costly to bring up to new health and safety regulations, is to be marketed and councillors have to find themselves a new building from which to work.

At last week's meeting of the council's properties committee, members discussed the idea of moving to the Listed building.

Cllr Peter Donkin said: 'If we are looking for town council premises, the ideal situation would be a historic building we need to look after and also a building where the rental potential is very poor.'

Cllr Judith Williams felt English Heritage, which has strict guidelines about changing Listed buildings, would have to accept some changes to enable Court Gate to be used.

Cllr Norma Woodcock said she was delighte' Court Gate, a site originally used by Benedictine monks, was being considered.

'Economically, architecturally, historically and emotionally it would be an ideal place,' she said.

But Cllr Ted Sherrell was cautious about the idea of using Court Gate.

He said: 'I think we should always have in mind the danger of jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire — I think this would need very deep investigation.'

Cllr Sherrell was also worried about the link with Benedictine monks.

'Was it a silent order?' he queried.

Cllr John Wright assured him the monks followed rules of poverty, chastity and obedience which would be most appropriate to the town council!

Town clerk Roger Howard said the council had to consider the most appropriate and economic new home — and it would probably be cheaper to bring Court Gate up to modern rules and regulations than the present Victorian council chamber.

'Whatever you do is going to cost money. If we sell this place we would have the money to convert Court Gate, but we can't ask the town to stump up £250,000 to do up this building.

'We could have Court Gate up and running and use it at no cost to anybody — at the moment it's lying empty and slowly deteriorating,' he said.