AN AMBITIOUS vision for the enhancement of Okehampton was outlined this week in a new Concept Plan.

The plan drawn up by local architect Peter Woodgate offers a host of ideas for the future of the town over a 20-year time frame, including a relief road to tackle congestion, an alternative site for a second primary school and a hotel on the former Castle Hospital site.

One of the priorities identified in the plan was alleviating traffic congestion in the town, which would increase as more new housing was built in Okehampton.

Mr Woodgate said that before the bypass was introduced, Okehampton had the image of being beset by traffic jams, and the town was in danger of returning to that situation.

One of his proposals was a link road between North Road and Oaklands Drive to relieve traffic congestion in the centre of the town.

'I don't think we can afford not to do it. If we don't do something now we are going to leave a very difficult situation for future generations,' he said.

Mr Woodgate added a relief road would be of economic benefit to the town, because trade would be lost if growing traffic problems were not addressed.

He was also in favour of a link road between the Exeter Road Industrial Estate and Crediton Road as another way of easing traffic congestion.

Mr Woodgate put forward an idea for the use of the now redundant Castle Hospital. He said the site could be developed for hotel accommodation which could be a 'giant wealth-creating benefit for the town'.

Mr Woodgate said he felt the Castle Hospital site was an 'absolute gem for the future', and as a hotel, it could attract a lot of visitors to Okehampton and West Devon.

An alternative site for the proposed second primary school for Okehampton was identified in the plan.

West Devon Borough Council has already identified a site for a new primary school on the eastern edge of Okehampton to the south of Crediton Road, but Mr Woodgate favoured creating a 'primary school campus' at the existing primary school site.

He warned that building a primary school on a site to the east of Okehampton could divide the town, while his proposal would strengthen community spirit by bringing education together in an integrated way.

The land on the eastern edge of the town is identified as the preferred location for a second primary school for Okehampton in West Devon Borough Council's Local Plan, but the inspector's report following the public inquiry into the plan is now awaited.

Other exciting ideas contained within the plan's vision for Okehampton included the use of the Old Mill site as an expanded library and cultural centre, a tree-lined path parallel to Church Lane to be called Community Avenue and a statue depicting Ten Tors, to celebrate the nationally-recognised event, at the access turning to the medical centre, to brighten up the East Street approach to the town centre.

The architect said another idea he had put forward was to link all the historic sights of the town to make more of these unique features.

Mr Woodgate said Okehampton had some key strengths it was vital to safeguard.

'We must maintain our individuality. I think our two greatest assets are our friendly and caring community and our superb natural environment,' he said.

Okehampton Town Council commissioned Mr Woodgate to draw up the plan. Many of its ideas could now be taken forward under the Market and Coastal Towns Initiative or in conjunction with local authorities.

Mr Woodgate was previously involved in drawing up designs for the enhancement of the town centre which included colourful banners and commemorative plaques.

The Concept Plan was unveiled to a group of councillors and important local decision-makers at a presentation in the Charter Hall on Monday evening.

People living in Okehampton will get the chance to comment on the ideas set out in the plan and put forward their own proposals. Public consultation exercises, including an exhibition of the detailed plans, will be held later this month.

Mr Woodgate said it was important if anyone had any ideas for improvements they wanted to see in the town, to should come forward and give their views.

But he hoped people would look at the broad strategy of the plan and not just individual elements.

'People will come up with their ideas. There is always someone out there who comes up with that original idea,' he said.

Mayor Christine Marsh, who chairs the Okehampton MCTI steering group, said the project was now moving into the exciting phase two stage and the group wanted people to tell them how they wanted Okehampton to develop.

'It is about you saying, "This is what we want for our area",' she said.