A NEW works depot for Tavistock Town Council could be up and running by the end of the year, after the scheme got the thumbs up from councillors at their meeting last week.

Members heard that the project, costing around £430,000, would provide council staff with excellent storage space and working conditions. It could also be used for training purposes, in partnership with schools and other organisations in the area.

The new depot would be built on council-owned land in Pixon Lane — currently, the council rents its depot and the lease is due to expire in March next year.

Works superintendent Wayne Southall said the new depot would easily accommodate the existing 12 members of staff, but looking towards the long term, it would be big enough for 16 or 17 people, if extra staff, or apprentices, were to be taken on.

The two-storey depot would have office space, vehicle storage, equipment storage, a canteen, drying room, showers and toilets, a large workshop and vehicle washing bay.

Town clerk Roger Howard said the council could apply for a public works loan, once a formal resolution had been agreed.

If this was to be paid off over a period of 50 years, the difference between the payments and the figure the council currently paid in rent was minimal, said Col Howard.

Cllr Debo Sellis said: 'Given that we are going to have training facilities with the new building, it looks as if we have the potential to use the site to actually get some revenue.

'We could really be forward looking, maybe link with Duchy College, Tavistock College.

'It could really be a boon to our property portfolio, and we could even gain funding for apprenticeships.'

The properties committee heard that once the council had agreed to apply for a loan for the project, planning permission would be sought, with a view to starting work on the depot in July. The construction should take between 12 and 16 weeks.

The committee agreed Cllr Mandy Govier's proposal that the council apply for a £450,000 public works loan — the finance committee members also backed the move, which was due to be ratified by the full council at its meeting on Tuesday night.