AN overwhelming majority of people voting at Tavistock's annual meeting last week favoured moving the town's war memorial from its site in the Guildhall car park.

Dick Eberlie, who represents Tavistock on West Devon Borough Council, said many felt the memorial was not necessarily in the best place and various options including the churchyard or Bedford Square could be considered.

Cllr Ken Saunders, the town council's properties committee chairman, said: 'I am in favour of relocating the war memorial from the car park, where it is surrounded by cars and exhaust fumes, with not very good access for the public.'

Extracts from the minutes of the Urban District Council between 1917 and 1921 were read by David McDowall, of the Royal Marines' Association. He said originally, the churchyard was the preferred spot for the memorial, but £600 needed to be raised by the public to erect it in this position.

As this figure was not reached, it was agreed to go for the cheaper option, in the Guildhall car park.

He felt the memorial could easily be moved to the churchyard, facing the same direction, and demonstrated an artist's impression of the new situation.

Local historian Gerry Woodcock said 119 'Tavistock lads' gave their lives during the first world war and their names were on the memorial.

'It was unveiled in 1921. In the two years preceeding that there had been extensive public consultation and great care had been taken to establish the views of the public, relatives of the fallen, comrades of the Great War and all the churches in Tavistock,' said Mr Woodcock.

It was agreed a rough granite cross should be erected in the south eastern corner of the churchyard — but not enough money was raised to do so, said Mr Woodcock.

'Everyone knew at the time that the town had accepted second best,' he said.'I ask the council to breathe new life into the those words, "We will remember them".'

Alex Mettler, of Tavistock History Society, said the war memorial should be in a place where it gave great dignity to the men who died for the country.

Town councillor Betty Batchelor said it was not 'at all dignified' to have the memorial situated next to the public toilets.

And resident Glenda Harvey, who lost relatives in the war, also felt it should be moved to the churchyard.

But George Forbes of Tavistock branch of the Royal British Legion said it would cost thousands to move the memorial.

He said: 'We feel it should stay as it is now, in the corner of the car park, roped off.'

John Taylor, chairman of Tavistock Forward, proposed there should be a vote to gauge public reaction at the meeting.

A show of hands revealed 27 votes for moving the war memorial and eight against.

A working group will now be set up by the town council to consider the way forward.