THE overwhelming success of a community day on Saturday which saw over 1,000 people give their views on the future of Okehampton have put an end to fears that apathy rules in the town.
Organisers and members of the 100 groups who exhibited on the day inside a huge marquee in Simmons Park are 'buzzing' from the feedback from what has been described as the most interactive community event in the South West.
Views and opinions collated on the day will now go towards creating 'a vision for Okehampton', which will see the regeneration of the market town following the foot and mouth crisis.
The aim of the Okehampton Market and Coastal Towns Initiative, which is being given the opportunity to draw down millions of pounds of funding from the Government and other sources, was to capture the imagination of the public by holding a unique community consultation event.
As well as a chance for everyone to see what was going on in Okehampton and the projects seeking support, the networking opportunities were immense, said organisers.
Community groups, organisations and local authorities attending the event ranged from Okehampton Teens to Twenties to Okehampton Police Force and West Devon Borough Council.
Projects ranged from a moorland maze to a centre for healthy living/library and recording studio at the derelict Old Mill site and a youth cafe.
Some display areas were just left blank so people could write down their opinions about what they would like to see in Okehampton on sheets of paper and post-it notes.
On West Devon Borough Council's display alone, 200 post-it notes were collected.
Press officer for the authority Alison Stoneham said it had been a fabulous day.
She said: 'We have had ideas right across the spectrum and what is particularly encouraging is all the young people who have been coming up with ideas.'
More shops, decent play areas, cycling facilities, weekday trains to Exeter and an ice rink were just some of the suggestions put forward by people.
Other wanted an entertainment venue or something as simple as salsa classes or a big town tidy-up.
'I feel it is a major feat to have managed to get so many people under one roof, so all credit to the organisers — Okehampton should be very proud of this,' said Alison.
Market and Coastal Towns Initiative Co-ordinator Paul Tucker said he could feel the positive mood around the marquee.
'I think the day has given everyone a lift,' he said.
'There is an amazing amount of interest and so much feedback here today that it will probably form the basis of the community action plan,' he said.
'The important thing is that we keep the momentum going so we are keen to get the information from this day out to the public as soon as possible, maybe in the form of a leaflet.'
Okehampton resident Pauline Brett said it was great to be able to speak directly to the people involved in things going on in the town.
'This is the first time I have been asked my opinion in such an original way,' she said.
'As long as there is somebody out there to act on it then it has all been worthwhile.'
Resident Janice Thwaites said she had found out about projects that she never knew existed, like plans for the Old Mill Site.
She said: 'It has been excellent — I had no idea there were so many groups in Okehampton.'
Steering group member for the Okehampton initiative Judy Pride said her phone had been hot since the event and people were coming forward with 'fantastic ideas.'
She said in the past Okehampton residents had been criticised for being apathetic when conventional methods of consultation such as questionnaires received little response.
'This community day has really got everybody talking,' she said.
'I think it shows that people really do care what happens in Okehampton in the future and with this amount of people we have a clear mandate to take things forward.'
All information is being fed into a database and the main themes will then be developed by different working groups.
Anyone who still has ideas to share can give their opinions at The Ockment Centre.