?I?M backing Okehampton? ? a new campaign to welcome people to the town ? is looking for support from local people. The campaign is being developed by Okehampton Chamber of Trade in partnership with Okehampton Town Council. Richard Appleby, chairman of the Chamber of Trade, first came up with the idea for a campaign promoting what Okehampton has to offer at the chamber?s annual meeting in January. Now he is hoping interested members of the public will come forward to help drive some of the scheme?s initiatives forward. Mr Appleby said he wanted all new people moving into Okehampton to be given a welcome pack which would ensure they were aware of what the town had to offer. ?It doesn?t take four years to be considered a local in Okehampton,? said Mr Appleby. ?We are a very inclusive kind of town. There is always the worry that people moving into the new homes being built here are not using the town, and are looking to Exeter instead. So this campaign aims to let people know what we have to offer.? Mr Appleby said he would like the welcome packs to include a directory of all the local businesses in Okehampton, a town centre map and other items that highlighted the town?s plus points. Mr Appleby said: ?We are looking at setting up a good service award through the town. So if you think you have got particularly good service from a shop displaying an ?I?m backing Okehampton? sticker, you could nominate them for an award.? Other ideas as part of the initiative include hiring a town marketing co-ordinator, branded carrier bags for businesses in the town, and a town diary, and listing all the important dates in the Okehampton calendar. Mr Appleby said: ?We have now got an agenda. We are looking for people that will say ?I would like to get involved?. ?It could suit an older person who has some time on their hands or a younger person who would like to gain some good experience. We have to get businesses and local people on board so we are all working together to promote the town.? And town clerk Don Bent said a number of possible logos for the ?I?m backing Okehampton? campaign were being explored. Anyone who would like to have an input on the ?I?m backing Okehampton? campaign is asked to contact Mr Appleby on 01837 659249.