A MEETING to brew bright ideas and fresh innovations for the area between Sourton Cross and Lifton is being planned for next month, writes Jane Honey.

Devon's West Country Association decided at its recent annual meeting that it wants to hear more about how people living and working along the old A30 want to improve their businesses and environment.

Chairman Ann Voss-Bark said: 'The association was formed when the A30 was bypassed, primarily to promote businesses along the A30 corridor which were going to be disadvantaged.

'We did all sorts of things and then the final climax was the creation of the West Devon Drive.'

The West Devon Drive was a unique project launched last year to turn the old route into a visual magnet for tourists heading west. Many shrubs and flowers have been planted along the 12-mile stretch of road.

Mrs Voss-Bark said: 'The committee decided we had achieved all the things we set out to do and it's really a question of broadening the association and having everybody who wants to be involved to come along.'

She said 'anybody and everybody' who lives around the West Devon Drive is very welcome to come to the meeting on Wednesday, June 7. They can have their say about their aims and priorities for the area and on how to take the association forward.

To boost business in the area, the association has produced many information leaflets — it also paid to have brown tourist information signs erected by the new dual-carriageway several years ago.

'They went up in the August and people's businesses were just transformed literally from that moment — it was that obvious.

'It highlighted the fact that you could eat, sleep and drink by just turning off the dual-carriageway,' said Mrs Voss-Bark.

Lewdown businessman Bob Westlake, who spearheaded the West Devon Drive project, said: 'Certain parts of the road are really looking very attractive now.

'In the main it has been very successful — we have spent the money and you can certainly see the fruits of our labours.'

He said the association has been approached by many people who are 'very happy' with the West Devon Drive, and as the plants mature the route will become more attractive.

'It's a long-term project,' said Mr Westlake, who hoped as many people as possible would attend next month's meeting.

'We want to revitalise Devon's West Country Association and take a further look at where we are going,' he said.

The association's open meeting will be held at the Arundell Arms at 7pm on June 7 — all are welcome.