HUNDREDS of thousands of pounds are likely to be spent on Tavistock's antiquated town council offices in Drake Road after members finally decided to keep the building for the forseeable future.

The 100-year-old Listed building does not comply with new health and safety regulations, which come into force within the next 18 months, or fire safety rules — a fire escape and disabled access need to be installed which could cost up to £230,000.

The council has spent many hours investigating alternative accommodation and drew up a feasibility study into converting the Grade I Listed Court Gate in the town centre.

But English Heritage vetoed changes to this building and despite a glossy sales brochure, there has been little interest in the Drake Road offices.

After completing a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) for the Guildhall, Corn Market offices, Kilworthy Park offices, Court Gate, the old library, the town hall and Drake Road, the council's redevelopment committee finally agreed staying put was the best option.

Cllr Roger Mathew is strongly in favour of the council remaining in Drake Road.

'When you are in a freehold building which is purpose-built it's potty to do anything else,' he said.

He said the council had run out of time to sell the building due to the lack of fire precautions and because the council's architects indicated it was unlikely to sell either in the long or short term.

The purpose-built offices were worth more than money to the council and probably not worth much to anyone else, he said.

Cllr Mathew also felt the £230,000 estimate could be trimmed down.

'Whatever else you do is going to cause disruption, cost huge amounts of expenditure and create all sorts of other problems,' he said.

But Cllr Peter Donkin disagreed: 'Basically, I don't feel it is the most cost-effective option.

'My broad point of view is that the town council has more property in its portfolio than it actually needs for its function as a parish council — now is not the time to give up on the sale of Drake Road.'

Cllr Donkin said if the fire brigade was to close the council offices tomorrow, there was still plenty of accommodation that could be used — including making more use of the town hall which is under-used on week days.

'There are other ways that £230,000 could benefit the people of Tavistock,' he said.

Mayor of Tavistock Norma Woodcock said: 'We have spent something like 17 hours talking about this so far — it's a very important decision.

'I think the committee have done a very thorough job — all the councillors were invited to send their views and the decision will be considered by the full council next month.'

Town clerk Roger Howard said the figure of £230,000 originated from an architect's report commissioned

last year.

It was a 'worst case' figure which included decorating, roof repairs and maintenance as well as fire safety work and lift installation.

He said: 'I should think it could be less than that figure, and it will be phased over a number of years.

'We will now ask Pearn and Proctor, who did the original report, to look at it, polish it off and phase the project. We don't have to have the gold-plated option, we want to get best value out of it.'

The decision to remain in the Drake Road offices will be put to the full council at its meeting on September 4.