THE long-running battle over use of Tavistock Pannier Market as a polling station has finally been resolved ? with the town council claiming victory.

The council has been concerned at the loss of income to it, and its traders, when the market is closed and used by the borough council as a polling station.

Councillors have suggested to the borough that the town hall would be an ideal alternative, particularly as considerable sums have been invested to make it safe and accessible to all.

But until now, the borough?s returning officer, chief executive David Incoll, has insisted the pannier market should be used. Matters came to a head last month, when a strongly worded letter was sent to Mr Incoll.

Town clerk Roger Howard told Mr Incoll the council felt he was acting in an ?undemocratic? manner as he was ?ignoring not only the valid reasons for a change, but also the clear wishes of the elected members for Tavistock?.

Col Howard said the council had received legal advice that it had no statutory obligation to make any of its premises available to the borough for use on polling days.

Col Howard said: ?In view of this we cannot see that you as returning officer have a valid case to insist on the market, as we are offering a suitable alternative.?

Councillors at last week?s properties committee meeting welcomed a response from the returning officer.

Mr Incoll said he was ?very disappointed? the town council would no longer make the pannier market available for election use.

He said he would ?no longer resist the wish of those elected? and realised his argument that the logistical requirements of the democratic process should prevail over commercial considerations was ?no longer tenable?.

Mr Incoll said the borough would now look for alternative venues and even consider separate polling stations for Tavistock?s wards.

Cllr Iain Andrews, chairman of the properties committee, said: ?The democratic will of the people has overcome bureaucracy in this case. I think this is a victory for us.?

Town mayor Cllr Jenny Metcalf welcomed the fact the pannier market would face no more interruptions to its traders, staff and shoppers and hoped the two councils could come to mutually agreeable working arrangements for future elections.