AN ACTION plan to regenerate Hatherleigh's struggling economy after foot and mouth is being drawn up with projects set to go forward for a 'virtual £1-million' of funding next summer.

Residents at a public meeting at Hatherleigh Methodist Hall were told on Monday that by spring next year the plan would be ready for consultation.

Hatherleigh is one of seven Devon market towns to benefit from the South West Regional Development Agency's Market and Coastal Town Initiative but there is no set amount of money it will receive under the scheme.

Paul Tucker from the Community Council of Devon, who is overseeing the project, said money could be as much or as little as the community needs.

'It may be £1-million or it could be much more than that — we are hoping it could be several millions,' he said.

The meeting heard that money would be available for jobs and training, town improvements, transport, housing, community facilities, environmental improvements and learning but the action plan would have to contain viable projects not a wish-list.

Each project would also have to obtain some funding from other sources with the RDA contributing as much as 90 per cent.

Projects already highlighted as potential winners are a visitors' centre, a renewable energy project, a maze/theatre on Hatherleigh Moor, marketing and branding of local produce, a Hatherleigh area promotional project and an ICT/vocational training centre.

The Market and Coastal Town Initiative is expected to take forward the plan for a community hall plus expanding the use of the Market Square for such things as a farmers' market, developing a composting scheme and providing facilities for the young and elderly.

Twelve parishes surrounding Hatherleigh will also be able to put forward projects. They are Highampton, Meeth, Iddesleigh, Broadwoodkelly, Monkokehampton, Exbourne, Jacobstowe, Inwardleigh, Beaworthy, Bratton Clovelly, Germansweek and Northlew.

Mr Tucker said he expected money to become available immediately after the strategic action plan was published in summer next year.

He asked for more people to become involved so working groups could be set up looking at each project. Funding was available to bring professionals and experts in from elsewhere.

Charles Coffin, who was brought in three months ago to help Hatherleigh overcome the foot and mouth crisis before the town was identified by the RDA to benefit from the regeneration scheme, told residents it was important to bear in mind that this part of Devon was almost unique in England and whatever was proposed must not upset the balance.

Hatherleigh vicar the Rev Alex Welby said the town needed visitors to keep the economy afloat but it did not want to become a 'Morwellham Quay' type of attraction.

'The last thing we want is tourists looking at us and saying aren't those people funny,' he said.

But farmer Lisa Robinson from Noel Edmonds Heart of Devon Appeal said traditional farming which had supported Hatherleigh's economy for generations should not be overlooked.

'We have the best red Devon cattle in this area and farmers out there will pour money into the economy if they can get the right price for their meat,' she said.

'We have a huge market sitting over there that has nearly gone bankrupt. The success of this rural community comes from the money that is spent in the market on a Tuesday.'

She said tourists stopped at the farm gate to look at the animals and farmers' families shopped in the town.

'What makes Hatherleigh so special is that it is unspoilt but highly professionally productive,' she added.

Mr Coffin, a former farmer, said because of the uncertain future regarding agriculture at the moment, which was something out of his control, farmers needed to think of themselves more as landowners.

'I am finding it very frustrating because I realise farms should be looking at different options but it is very difficult to enthuse farmers at the moment,' he said.