CONGRATULATIONS on Jane Honey's lucid account (October 7) of West Devon Borough Council's attempt to stop Tavistock Town Council putting banners in the square highlighting forthcoming events and attractions in its town hall, pannier market or the square itself.

The situation arose, apparently, because 'a member of the public' complained to the borough about the banners. Surely, a far greater number would be in support of the banners?

We must be realistic: in this current economic climate — or at any time — it pays to advertise and many residents and visitors alike have been alerted to and then supported events because they saw a well-made and well-placed banner hoisted up across the gates.

Please let common-sense prevail and West Devon Borough Council withdraw its objection. It seems to wish the town to be a museum to the past, not a present-day town which values its beautiful buildings, but which must also try to thrive economically and remain vibrant and exciting.

Will West Devon Borough Council wish to ban Christmas trees on the town hall next? Or ban a repeat of those fun bicycles highlighting the cycle race? Or stop the carnival bunting or the stringing of Christmas lights?

Please reconsider and don't alienate the people of Tavistock with pretty and unnecessary interface.

M J Chaplin

Wessex Court

Tavistock

I'VE lived in the Tavistock area for over 20 years and the things I love about the town include its architecture, its history, its beautiful spaces. Having planning laws in place to protect these important aspects of the town is undoubtedly a good thing. However, I also love the liveliness of the town, with its many activities and events. The banners by the town hall are not only helpful for the dissemination of information but they are also an outward manifestation of the dynamism of this great town.

As a representative of one of the organisations which does from time to time put banners up by the town hall (as it has done for most of its 75 years of existence) I would like to take issue with the view that the graphic content and materials are generally poor. The banners produced by the Tavonians are of excellent quality, and indeed I have only once seen any other banner on display that has caused me any aesthetic trauma.

For many years West Devon Borough Council has chosen to ignore the apparent planning misdemeanour that the banners represent and I hope that they will come to realise that to take action against Tavistock Town Council over this issue will not be in the interests of the people of the town or its visitors.

If the banners are banned, the losers will be the local organisations who promote events and the local people who want to know about the events, and the only winners will be those who would like the town to become a museum piece rather than an exciting place to live.

Ali Fife

Local resident and chair of the Tavonians Theatre Company

THE conservation officer of the borough council wishes to stop banners being flown in Bedford Square between two historic buildings, on the grounds that they detract from the fine buildings and are detrimental to their setting.

I suggest he considers three points:

Firstly, are the banners damaging to the fabric of the buildings? The answer is 'no'. Secondly, are they so unsightly as to offend residents and visitors to the town? The answer is that some do find them unsightly, however, I believe there is an important third point — and I paraphrase — were the buildings made for Man, or Man made for the buildings? Undeniably, the buildings and square were made for Man.

The building are a fine resource and host a variety of events. The revenue from such events helps maintain the buildings themselves and many of the events are arranged to raise funds for good causes. Advertising is crucial and there is nowhere better or more effective than in the square.

It could be argued that other activities detract from the visual appeal of the locality eg, fairground rides; sometimes vans, used by outside market traders to bring their produce, park on the square; the farmers' market itself; yet would we wish to deny them this privilege? Of course not!

Allowing local people and organisations to make the best use of these assets is not incompatible with treating the locality with respect and neither does it compromise their significance or charm. Tavistock residents are proud of their heritage and most believe these amenities can be used to the full, without harming this conservation area.

Melvyn Thomas

Heritage Park

Tavistock

RECENTLY, following Tavistock Town Council's attempt to resolve the matter of the advertising banners hung on the town hall by using the lamp standards in the square we were told that West Devon Borough Council placed a structural engineer's report before them, stating the lamp standards were unsuitable.

I questioned the validity of the engineer's report and suggested they check the matters out themselves, particularly as West Devon themselves use similar columns elsewhere in Tavistock for the exact same purpose (in Plymouth Road).

I also checked with the manufacturers and was told that fixings were available for hanging banners.

I was refused access to the structural report and was told nothing could be done because the report had been accepted by the council.

Now we seem to be set on a course which will lead to the council heading hell-bent into litigation with West Devon and the conservation officer, which they will lose.

Remember, the lamp-posts were the original and, I presume, agreed proposal. Therefore, why not pursue the idea, and if it is going to embarrass West Devon Borough Council by proving them wrong, or at the very least bending the truth a bit, so be it.

As a footnote can I ask when the site of the old folk's rest room is to be developed?

E T Anstead

Priory Close

Whitchurch