MAYOR of Okehampton Christine Marsh has responded to criticism over the town council's decision to spend £14,000 on a wall sculpture in St James Street.

Her comments follow letters in the Times from residents who feel the money would be better spent on enhancing people's lives rather than the town centre such as improving the children's play area.

In her letter last week Maria Drew wrote: 'No matter how the council tries to justify its decision, it is my opinion in this instance, it has got its priorities wrong, because in fact we will only have a very costly, dead piece of metal, which will be of no earthly benefit to everybody.'

The sculpture of hiker 'Jim' which is to be positioned on the wall of Telecare Electrics is to represent Okehampton's walking history and St James the patron saint of pilgrims.

It is part of a large enhancement for the town centre which is a partnership project between Devon County Council, West Devon Borough Council and Okehampton Town Council.

Cllr Marsh said £10,000 of the money being spent on the sculpture was part of the Waitrose receipt and was not coming out of taxpayers pockets.

'The money from Waitrose had to specifically be spent on enhancing the town to encourage others to come,' she said. 'We felt the sculpture would attract people to the St James Street area.'

She said the council was well aware the children needed a new playpark and she was delighted to announce that Okehampton United Non Ecclesiastical Trust had agreed to put a large sum of £50,000 into a new play area.

'It is something we have been working on for a long time but unfortunately the public do not see what is going on behind the scenes,' she said.

'The wheels of corporate bodies grind very slowly.'

A campaign for a BMX track and skate area for the older children had also been championed by the town council and things were now starting to move on that score with land being earmarked to the rear of Brayhams Terrace and planning permission soon to be sought.

'Sometimes it is a long process to achieve what everybody wants and I, like a lot of people, get a bit disillusioned,' added the Mayor. 'The Okehampton United Non-Ecclesiastical Trust has made a very generous donation and I am hoping we will be able to start work on the play area in the new year.'

The playpark will be relocated to the putting green/pavilion area of Simmons Park to make full use of the sunlight.

Posters and information about the new equipment will be on display in the pavilion.

The Mayor said she appreciated that people were frustrated at the moment by the inconvenience of all the roadworks in town for the enhancement project but it would be worth it soon.

'A lot of money is being spent to enhance Okehampton, including Simmons Park, which will be returned to its formal glory thanks to a Heritage Lottery grant,' she said.

'We could do a lot more to enhance people's lives but unfortunately the public would have to pay for it through their taxes and I don't think a big increase in council tax would go down very well.'