THE authorities are starting with a 'clean sheet of paper' for the second enhancement project in Okehampton and are urging local people to have their say at an early stage.

Local service officer for Devon County Council Mike Parnell said this week he wanted people to have a sense of ownership in the scheme for Fairplace instead of them feeling like they were being 'steamrollered'.

West Devon Borough Council came under heavy criticism from the trustees of St James Chapel who claimed that the original enhancement plan for the chapel area had been imposed on them and the authority had not listened to their views.

Following further meetings between the two parties the detail of the plan has now being altered and approved, but Mr Parnell said he wanted to ensure a full understanding of people's needs at an early stage for the Fairplace scheme.

He said: 'I am urging people with something to say to say it — it is always more difficult if people do not speak until afterwards.

'If we can get things out in the open early on it makes it a lot easier for everybody.'

Proposals for work at Fairplace to improve pedestrian safety date back to 1987. Last year as part of a plan to regenerate Okehampton an exhibition of concepts by artist Ray Smith was held in the Market Hall including ideas for Fairplace.

Mr Parnell said funding of £100,000 had now been obtained to carry out out highways works in Okehampton, the majority of which would be spent on Fairplace.

In a letter to firms and shopkeepers in the town the county council is calling for people to identify their needs and requirements for serving their businesses by cars and delivery vehicles in order that they can be considered in the design process. Letters have also gone out to all the residents in the vicinity.

'We are starting with a clean sheet of paper,' said Mr Parnell. 'The only idea that has been delivered so far is a continuation of the river paving theme which has been carried out at St James' Chapel but nothing will be discussed until we know how or if we can change the road layout to make it easier for pedestrians.'

He said the small garden area and toilets would be retained and hopefully enhanced if the borough council contributed some money towards it.

'To my mind the important part of any scheme is that people have some sort of ownership of it,' he added. 'If people do not want it, it is an uphill battle.

'We want people involved from the beginning instead of them feeling they are being steamrollered — that is not what we want.'

His words have been endorsed by mayor of Okehampton Christine Marsh: 'Devon County Council and Okehampton's traffic management and enhancement group are all open to listening to people and they must speak up,' she said. 'If they say nothing they cannot come whingeing afterwards.'

Cllr Marsh said she believed the authorities were moving into a new era of consulting more with the public and it was really important people had their say.

'These schemes need to be practical and not just cosmetic — a closer consultation with the people who live and work in the area has got to be the way forward.'

The proposed timetable for the Fairplace enhancement is to draw up some preliminary designs during June and July followed by a public consultation exercise in August. It is hoped work will start on site during January 2001.