A DECISION to make an offer on a plot of land in Okehampton will be made at a full town council meeting next week.

The small area of land at Clapps Wood near Somerfield, which is due to be put on the open market, is owned by West Devon Borough Council.

The land has already been tidied up by the Ockment Rivers Improvement Group, who have cut back poisonous laurel and opened the area to expose the trees and plants.

At a meeting of the town council's parks committee last week, members proposed they apply for a grant and make an offer on the land.

Okehampton town councillor Charles Letchford said the land would make an attractive nature reserve.

He said: 'It would provide a lovely walk to the west of the town and would be kept as a wildlife reserve.

'Green spaces have been lost in the past — this is a far better piece of land for the town and I think we should fight for it.'

Chairman of Devon County Council and member of the Ockment Rivers Group, Cllr Christine Marsh, said: 'It's a lovely area of land.

'It's not open to the public, but it would allow for the future creation of a public footpath from Westbridge Close to Lodge Hill.

'We've worked hard to clear the area and it's really pretty, it would be nice if we could purchase it.

'We would maintain it and make the most of it.'

The decision to make an offer on the land will be made at the full town council meeting on Monday, September 6.