THE entertainment landscape in Okehampton is set to be shaken up with the go-ahead for the town?s market hall to become a cinema. Planning permission was granted this week for the ambitious vision of Merlin Cinemas ? it will see the hall cease as a market and sale venue, despite opposition from some town residents. The Cornish firm hopes to convert the hall to create a two-screen cinema, with additional café and bar facilities in time to open by the end of the year. Following months of debate since Okehampton Town Council, which owns the building, announced the proposal last December, approval was granted by West Devon Borough Council?s planning committee on Tuesday. Cllr Tony Leech said the town council welcomed the committee?s decision which he felt was ?good news for the town? and would help bring prosperity by giving more people a reason to come to Okehampton. He believed the ?silent majority? in the town were excited by the prospect of a new cinema, and the vocal group who opposed the scheme did not represent the broader view of people in the town. Cllr Leech said he was still hopeful market traders had a future in Okehampton, but traders needed to help themselves: ?What we want is for a good quality market to be put together ? we have asked all those involved to come up with ideas for different types of market, but we have not had much response.? Mayor of Okehampton Cllr Frances Luxton said: ?I think it is very good for the town and very good for the young people. ?I know it has been a bit of a controversial topic, but having been down to Cornwall and seen how Merlin Cinemas operate there, I know that Mr Greaves (the proprietor) is a man with a vision and I really think it will succeed.? Caroline Shaw, of Okehampton Auctions, who, along with market stallholders, market users and dog obedience class owners, has opposed the move, said she was ?horrified by the decision?. She was upset that a petition opposed to the changes, bearing around 1,000 signatures which was submitted to Okehampton Town Council earlier this year, and passed on to planners before Tuesday?s meeting, had seemingly been ignored. At that meeting, borough planning officer Adrian Noon told members the key issue was the impact the proposed scheme would have on the ?viability and vitality? of the town centre. He said: ?It is considered any harm that would result from the loss of the market would be outweighed by the benefits a cinema would bring to the night-time economy of Okehampton.? Cllr Ken Williams, who represents the Okehampton West ward, said the proposal was a very difficult one to weigh up: ?Would I like to see a cinema in town? Yes. Would I like to see the market hall used as a cinema rather than a market? No.? He said the uncertainty over the market?s future had made an impact upon the viability of the market. ?Frankly, some traders left as soon as rumours of the cinema conversion emerged. There are certainly those who feel the hall still has the potential to be a success as a pannier market.? Cllr James McInnes, who represents the Lew Valley ward, said he was sorry to see the loss of the market after so many years, but on the other hand, gaining a cinema for the town would be a ?very positive? step. Cllr Dick Eberlie said he was concerned the loss of the market would have a detrimental effect on the vitality of Okehampton?s town centre. He called on the borough council to write to Okehampton Town Council urging that further steps be taken to relocate all of l Continued from page 1 the market traders displaced by the project. The town council came in for a stronger rebuke from one of its own former councillors; Jayne Hill. She did not attend the meeting but in her observations relayed to the planning committee she said she felt the town council could have handled the whole issue much better. She was also concerned that the move would mean older shoppers in Okehampton would lose a shopping option they had enjoyed for many years. Members voted to follow the officer?s recommendation to grant planning permission for the scheme subject to conditions relating to noise limitation measures and that use be limited to ?a cinema with ancillary café/bar and no other use?. Okehampton resident Derek Godfrey-Brown claimed the town was losing part of its heritage by allowing the market hall to be converted into a cinema and said he was sceptical about the project?s chances of success. ?I think it is the wrong decision,? he said, ?you are not exactly going to get the biggest blockbusters coming here to Okehampton immediately after the premiere in Leicester Square.?
