A FRESH campaign has been launched by residents and visitors to Tavistock who are eager to revive the once thriving and much-loved Old Folks' Rest Room.

The rest room was closed to its members in 2009 and has since remained empty.

But hundreds of people have backed a campaign by Tavistock Area Support Services (TASS) to find out what is happening to the once bustling building.

The rest room, on Duke Street, was built in 1953 and was a popular location for the elderly to relax, put down their shopping and enjoy a cup of tea and cake in a safe and calm environment.

The facility was built by public subscription for the use of the over 60s in the town and was leased by Tavistock Town Councill, which paid a peppercorn rent to the building's owners Huntstrete Estates — until the lease ran out in 2009.

Within the past two weeks, hundreds of people have given their support to TASS. There is even a separate Facebook page entitled 'Can We Revive Tavistock's Old Folks' Rest Room' which has 170 members all trying to find out information on what can be done.

The appeal was brought to the attention of Tavistock town councillors last week at the annual town meeting.

Trustee of TASS Bryan Podmore said the organisation was making a case to find out what was happening to the building.

Mr Podmore said: 'We all know that in the middle of the town centre there is a building and land that is going to wrack and ruin which does not help the picture of Tavistock.

'Since the Old Folks Rest Room's clients were forced out it has fallen on TASS to look after them.

'We have contacted Huntstrete and from communicating with the owners we have received the response of nil.

'Can I ask Tavistock Town Council, in conjunction with West Devon Borough Council, to look at ways of bringing the owner to the table and give the town council some ideas of what they want to do with the land. We want to bring that building back into use and give back pride that residents of Tavistock had in the building.'

Tavistock town mayor Cllr Harry Smith said: 'When it was forced to close it was unfortunate — it was the perfect building in the ideal place. It was a fantastic facility at the time and the town council tried extremely hard to get Huntstrete Estates to negotiate.

'I think that it's something the council should consider and try and get Huntstrete Estate to make a decision.'

Cllr Ted Sherrell said: 'I think the developers wanted to knock it down and build flats or shops and thanks to the town council and West Devon it has been rebuffed.

'The town council is in the strongest position as they [Huntstrete] cannot develop it.

'It's an eyesore and in a sad situation — it was a building that was used so much — but something needs to be done and hopefully we can have it returned to community use.'

Mr Podmore added: 'When the Old Folks' organisation group left the premises it tried to stay together and move to another place in town but they were unsuitable.

'As a stop gap it went to The Anchorage Centre [TASS] for two days a week. We all thought it would only be temporary — it has unfortunately not gone the way we hoped.

'TASS is busy and we are bursting at the seams, we do need premises for the Old Folks Rest Room [group].'

Back in 2007, people of all ages fought to save the building which was under threat of closure after its owners planned to demolish the rest room and replace it with a retail unit.

The application and subsequent plans were refused by West Devon Borough Council members.

l The issue of approaching Huntstrete Estates over its plans for the Old Folks Rest Room will be raised formally at Tavistock Town Council's properties committee meeting on April 7. If a recommendation is made it will go to full council on April 14.

Hunstrete Estates was unavailable for comment as the Times went to press.