I ATTENDED a meeting at Tavistock College on April 12 regarding the Wharf and its future. The meeting was reasonably well attended although I would have liked to have seen more young people there, considering that they do use the venue, particularly when bands are on. Many of the people at the meeting are passionate about the future of the Wharf. I read in the April 13 edition of the Times that the council were aware of the problems the directors were facing 18 months ago as, obviously, were the directors. Why then were the public ie, the local community not made aware of its potential demise at this time? This would have allowed sufficient time for local people and communities of interest to get together and form a consortium or trust, rather than have to scramble around at the eleventh hour for a strategy to try to put an offer on the table. The Wharf is a valuable asset and we should all try to save it somehow by working together for community gain ? this partnership should include all the statutory agencies as well. Consideration and thought should be given to all the dedicated staff and volunteers and what their future holds. The directors have their own reasons for selling and that is their preroragative. A final plea to duly elected members: please act somehow on behalf of your constituents even if it is only to buy us some time ? what?s the point of having lots of local ?strategies? on council websites if you can not help in a classic case which affects the whole community. Failing this I trust that any new owner will be sensitive to the whole community?s needs and work with us to enable a diverse range of entertainment and performance options which can meet the needs of all local groups. Desanne McAllister Address supplied
