CAMPAIGNERS trying to establish a BMX and skating area in Okehampton have been given a financial shot in the arm following an appeal for support in the Times recently.
Stuart Lord, manager of OCRA and one of those involved in the scheme to try and create better facilities for the town's youth, said response to the article was 'very positive'.
'I've had a definite offer of £1,000 from a health organisation, that will come in the next couple of months. Obviously the more we get, the better facilities we can have.
'Someone has already offered to build us a ramp and we've had an offer of help from someone because of foot and mouth — they can't do the work they normally do,' said Stuart.
He is now in the process of applying for other funding — but the sticking point is agreeing where the track can go.
The campaigners received a further gesture of support from Okehampton Town Council after its meeting last month.
The authority has agreed to write to West Devon Borough Council concerning a patch of land by the River Okement where the bikers would like to build a track.
Cllr Christine Marsh, mayor of Okehampton, said: 'It's not being used for anything and it wouldn't be a flood risk. They have to have somewhere to go — they are trying to do this using their own initiative and they need to be supported.'
She said it was important to help the bikers with their project and encourage ownership and responsibility for it.
David Inman, borough deputy chief executive, said there were two fields under consideration near Brayhams and Maceys Terrace.
But he said the land in which the BMX project is interested was 'environmentally sensitive'.
'It is restricted by a covenant from a previous owner and that would have to be lifted,' said Mr Inman.
'The other one has a scout hut in the middle of it. It's a possible field for development but we need to establish with the rivers authority the risk of it being a flood plain.
'If it's not capable of development, it would probably be a better field for BMX because it already has recreational use and you could combine the two.'
Mr Inman said West Devon Homes are in consultation with the rivers authority at the moment but 'in principle' the borough would like to support the BMX group.
The borough's lead officer in its crime and disorder partnership, environmental chief Nick Payne, said the partnership is already behind Tavistock's Taviskate group 'in a big way'.
'We would want to be seen to be helping an Okehampton initiative in the same way, because obviously, if kids have these sorts of facilities to go to and entertain themselves, they are less likely to involve themselves in more anti-social activities,' he said.