A TEMPORARY solution for a coach park in Okehampton has been overwhelmingly supported by the chamber of trade which claims the town is losing up to £10,000 a week through a lack of parking facilities.

Included in local architect Peter Woodgate's concept plan for the East Okement Valley is a coach/bus park at Mill Road which takes in the end of the car park and part of the Old Mill site, both of which are owned by West Devon Borough Council.

The council is currently looking at a number of sites in the town to provide a new coach park following the construction of Waitrose on the site of the old one.

The authority has earmarked £100,000 towards the project but does not believe it will happen before next year because of the difficulties in finding and acquiring new land.

Peter Woodgate, who was asked to come up with a plan for the valley by Okehampton mayor Christine Marsh following concerns about development encroaching on the town's treasured Simmons Park, has suggested an area which could be an interim solution while Devon County Council considers plans for Mill Road.

Chamber chairman Ian Bailey said this week: 'Peter's scheme received overwhelming support at the recent chamber meeting and we are going to pressure the borough council to look at that site as a matter of urgency.

'We have to get coaches back into this town — we are losing £10,000 a week by not having them here.'

He added Mill Road answered all the criteria because it was near the centre of town and eventually there would be a bridge across the river linking Mill Road Car Park with the main shopping area.

'No more money will have to be spent there — all we are asking West Devon to do is knock down the corrugated sheds on the Old Mill site and make a coach park which is answering the immediate needs,' said Mr Bailey.

Deputy chief executive of West Devon Council David Inman said a county engineer was evaluating the site but all options were being considered at present.

'It is not an easy site and we will have to look into what radiuses buses will be able to turn on and the visibility splays — we take our advice from the county engineer at this stage.'

Mr Inman said he understood why the chamber wanted something done quickly but sites had to be evaluated and workable whether they were temporary or not.

Okehampton Town Council had been very helpful in allowing Simmons Park to be used for coach parking for the time being, he added.

Mr Woodgate's concept plan, which includes the creation of a new sporting area and arena behind the existing football pitch by cutting into the hillside, widening the leat road and providing a new road to ease congestion on Mill Road, has received support around the town.

The Okehampton United Non Ecclesiastical Trust, which owns the land behind the football pitch, has commissioned a survey to be done on the site which Mr Woodgate is suggesting.

Mr Inman said there were elements of the plan that the borough council was quite happy to have discussions on and see if it could assist in bringing them forward.

'We are quite happy to be involved in that process by grant grabbing and supporting if that is what local people want,' he said.