THE future of the Wharf in Tavistock sparked a call for action last week, in the hope the popular arts centre should not be lost to the town. The Wharf lease is up for sale at an asking price of £80,000 ? the decision to sell was sparked by the retirement of two of its voluntary directors. Cllr David Farrant at last week?s meeting of the town council said the Wharf was a wonderful facility, and he was concerned people in Tavistock did not understand why the town council was doing nothing to safeguard its future. He said: ?Many members of the public have said to me, is there nothing the town council can do about it? ?I feel perhaps a debate on the Wharf would be in order, just to see if it?s absolutely true that there is nothing we as a council can do.? Town clerk Roger Howard told members the town council owned the land, but had passed it to West Devon Borough Council on a 999-year lease. ?West Devon constructed the swimming pool and converted the Wharf buildings, which are sub-let to the Hurdwells, directors of The Wharf and there?s 24 years left of that lease,? said Col Howard. ?We are effectively two leases remote from the Wharf, and even West Devon cannot unreasonably object to anyone taking on the lease.? Cllr Iain Andrews said the council met with the Hurdwells some 18 months ago regarding finance. ?We realised the importance of a successful arts venue, but the money they were asking for far outstripped our ability to match it. We would have like to have supported them but the coffers wouldn?t allow us,? he said. Cllr Caroline Keane and Cllr Robin Pike both agreed that considerable sums of money had been given to the Wharf over the years by the town and borough councils. Cllr Norma Woodcock said when it was realised the old Bannawell Street swimming pool could no longer stay open, the town council had been in the fortunate position of owning town centre land which could be used for the construction of a new pool and associated car park ? the Wharf buildings originally housed the old town council works depot. ?The one thing the town council did say in allocating that land was that all that space had to be protected for the purpose of public leisure, recreation and culture and activities or uses incidental or related to that,? said Cllr Woodcock. ?The council was quite specific that area had to be for the benefit of the town, there is a safeguard in that lease which is good news,? she said. l A meeting to gauge public support for The Wharf was due to take place at Tavistock College last night (Wednesday), chaired by the college chairman of governors and attended by the Friends of The Wharf organisation.
