AS PART of her plan to get residents to feel involved in what is going on in Okehampton, Mayor of the town Christine Marsh is encouraging people to attend two important local meetings in the next month.
The improvement of Okehampton's rivers and the forthcoming restoration of Simmons Park thanks to a lottery grant of £311,000 are two projects which are set to enhance the town for local and visitors alike and now is your chance to play a part in them.
The annual meeting of the Rivers Improvement Group is taking place in the Ockment Centre on April 26 at 7pm and on May 1 there is an open meeting in the Charter Hall at 7pm to discuss the plans for Simmons Park.
Cllr Marsh said there were a lot of positive things happening in the town and it was important people came along to meetings and took an interest.
'I would like people to become a bit more involved — they are always saying to me they do not know what is going on in the town.
'These projects are for the benefit of the community and I want local people to feel a sense of ownership in this town and its facilities.'
By attending annual meetings, it did not mean you had to join the committee, said Cllr Marsh.
'Just come along and have a cup of coffee and find out what it's all about,' she said.
The rivers improvement group, which was formed two years ago, has held several river clean-ups to clear litter and vegetation and work has been done to improved the riverside. A study was also commissioned last year by the Westcountry Rivers Trust. The group was formed after local concern that the town did not make enough of this important feature.
The work on Simmons Park is expected to start in June and will return it to its former glory, restoring many heritage features and improving woodland and riverside walks and water gardens.