A MEMBER of the public has branded the proposed £12,000 study into siting a coach park behind Brayhams Terrace as an ?exorbitant waste of money?.
Speaking at the Okehampton Town Assembly last week, Peter Woodgate believed it would be a far better option to consider the site of the West Devon Borough Council offices at Oaklands Drive.
The former town mayor and retired partner in an architect?s practice believed a better way forward would be to build a bridge across the river linking North Road to Oaklands Drive.
?We should use the money on finding how we achieve that objective rather than the current situation which is only a temporary solution,? he said.
Mr Woodgate said he would like to see ?complete cooperation? between Devon County Council, West Devon Borough Council and Okehampton Town Council because the issue was very important for the town.
By using the existing Link Road between Crediton Road and North Road he said a route over the river to Oaklands Drive would solve a number of problems ? not least rapid emergency access to the north west.
?It would bring a major reduction to traffic in the town centre; there would be a coach and bus park in a central area which means passengers would then have a level footpath into the town centre.
?Okehampton has to build itself up as a route centre for public transport. We have to plan for the future ? improve public transport for the region and bring people straight into town. This would be a major economic benefit for the town.?
Mr Woodgate said such a scheme would also mean, with the growing development in the eastern side of town, mothers could drop their children at the primary school without driving through the town centre.
Ambulances at the new hospital and fire appliances responding to emergency calls in the Hatherleigh area would also be able to avoid the town centre.
?The roads of a town are the arteries of a town. We have got to get it right otherwise you have a lovely town choking with traffic chaos, ? he said.
Okehampton mayor Christine Marsh said she endorsed Mr Woodgate?s idea. She said the town council was hoping to enter into a dialogue with landowners.
?We would like to look at a more permanent solution rather than the temporary solution that West Devon Borough Council is looking at.?
Cllr Marsh said the area the borough was considering would be better used as a play area for the children.
?There are new developments there and for people living in that part of town it is quite a step to the park. As there is already a BMX site what better than to have a play area there as well.?
She said that while the idea was currently at an embryonic stage ?everything has to start somewhere?.
Cllr Marsh said the town council was concerned about the safety of children which was why, with the BMX area already there, it was not an ideal place for a coach park.
She felt Mr Woodgate?s suggestion, if it came off, would solve two problems at once ? by creating a play area and a coach park.
?I think it could be an easy solution for Devon County Council and the borough,? said Cllr Marsh who said she was prepared to take the matter forward to Devon County Council.