AN innovative and challenging project that is being considered for a new focus for remembrance in Okehampton town centre has now reached the development stage.

The project will provide a new permanent memorial and focal point centrally within the town which can be acknowledged every day of the year by anybody at any time.

An imaginative sculpture has been specially commissioned and produced by local artist Susan Eckles, which will sit on a granite plinth in Fairplace providing the new ‘hub’ for remembrance within the heart of the town.

The new memorial is not aimed to replace the existing memorial situated in the parish churchyard but rather to provide a more visible and central focus to complement the existing memorial.

Allenton Fisher, a spokesperson for the working group behind the project, said: ‘Our aim is to provide a visible and lasting focal point of remembrance within the town which acknowledges the suffering of all those affected by natural disasters, accidents and conflict.

‘The statue is a very moving piece of work which identifies with the suffering of those affected by tragedy and is intended to portray a compassionate and meaningful significance.

‘The project team has tried to identify with a more modern approach to remembrance and the design proposals represent a very different and futuristic concept to achieving a worthwhile aim.

‘We hope the townspeople will continue to embrace the idea and assist in fundraising towards the project.’

The site at Fairplace was considered the most suitable after public consultation last year and preliminary discussions with West Devon Borough Council have indicated the project can proceed, so the project team can now move towards the development phase.

The project costs are expected to be met from grant funding and public donations. Members of the project team will be on hand at the May Fair to provide details, together with the architect’s impression of the development and explain the thinking behind the concept.

Details of the project can also be found on the project’s website www.okehampton remembers.com and as the project progresses, updates will be posted on the group’s Facebook page.

For more information, or to contact the project team with any feedback, email okehampton [email protected]