THE first step has been taken in an ambitious new plan to increase facilities at Okehampton Youth Hostel and boost business in the town.

Planning consent is being sought for a £300,000 extension at the youth hostel, providing three new training rooms and shower and toilet facilities for cyclists using the cycle route.

John Elson, youth hostel manager, said: ?It?s quite an exciting project and potentially could bring a lot of benefits. It?s part of an ongoing scheme to make the station area more vibrant and to really use the cycle route.?

Mr Elson said many people used the car park before setting off on the cycle route and the shower and toilet facilities would make Okehampton an even more attractive pit-stop.

There would also be a tourist information point particularly aimed at people using the moor, which would be produced in partnership with Dartmoor National Park Authority.

He said the training rooms were intended to boost corporate and group business at the youth hostel.

?We specialise in providing activities for young people ? we already have quite a big contract with BMW, they bring all their apprentices here every two weeks, from all over the country as far away as Scotland.

?They do a lot of activity-based training ? it?s this type of group we want to attract for the new training rooms,? said Mr Elson.

?The main objective is to get more visitors down into this area out of season. We?ve had BMW down for the last two weeks ? normally we wouldn?t have had staff in but because of them, we?ve been able to employ more people,? he said.

Funding for the extension is being sought from several sources including the Youth Hostel Association ? the scheme is being undertaken in partnership with the county council, YHA and Dartmoor National Park Authority.

Mr Elson said he hoped building work would begin in September, with the project being completed before Easter 2004.

He said: ?The first thing is to make sure we get planning permission. The application has been submitted and the indications from the officers are that they like the scheme and the design.?

West Devon Borough Council?s planning department confirmed that officers were in consultation regarding the youth hostel scheme ? it was too early to say when the application would be considered by the planning committee.