THE mayor of Okehampton has put her faith in townspeople to 'speak their mind' over proposals for enhancing Fairplace which go on view to the public for the first time today (Thursday) at Okehampton Show.
Cllr Christine Marsh has assured the authorities that the people of Okehampton and its surrounding area will come out and say what they feel about the enhancement ideas.
'Please don't let me down,' she implored. 'It's vital the public speak their mind — it is no good coming in with an opinion at the end when the paving is down which is what happened with the enhancement around St James Chapel.
'We must learn by that mistake and people must say if they like it or if they don't.'
Devon County Council and West Devon Borough Council are working in partnership to make the area surrounding Fairplace safer for people to cross the road and to make better use of the square and gardens.
The authorities came under attack for a lack of consultation over the plans for the St James Chapel area but the second enhancement scheme, for which £100,000 has already been earmarked, has been started with a 'clean sheet of paper' in order to take public comments on board.
The county council has already received positive comments from local residents about improvements to the area and these have been fed into the ideas for the scheme.
A letter-drop to all the properties in the immediate vicinity of Fairplace requesting individuals and businesses to identify their specific needs started the consultation process back in June.
Seventeen responses were received and meetings have been held with the trustees of Fairplace Church, traders and residents.
Discussions have also taken place with Okehampton Town Council, Okehampton Enhancement and Traffic Group and Okehampton 2000.
The proposals, which will be on display at the Okehampton Town Council stand at Okehampton Show, include putting in a number of crossings, realigning kerbs and footways and changing and raising the road surface.
In the case of the square and gardens, artist Ray Smith has designed a new granite-faced toilet block, clapper bridge style seating, lawned banks and low planting.
Another idea is to incorporate the river style paving which has been used around St James Chapel.
Cllr Marsh is hoping as many people as possible come to the show today to see what is proposed and contribute their views by completing a questionnaire, but there will be other chances to have your say.
The ideas will be on display in the Charter Hall on August 11 and 18 and at various other venues around the town until the end of August including the library, Ockment Centre, Fairplace Church, the post office, Okehampton OK! office, Janet's barber shop and Somerfield.