OKEHAMPTON mayor Cllr Tony Leech vowed at the start of his second term in office to continue to press for a relief road for the town. He told guests at the mayor choosing ceremony last Wednesday: ?Okehampton is expanding rapidly, and the roads are getting clogged quicker each day ? we must press the authorities to think about roads and infrastructure before we get any more houses.? Cllr Leech said the design of new homes should be sympathetic to the character of Okehampton and he warned incongruous development in unspoilt countryside was as much a ?blot on the landscape? as any wind farm might be. ?We want new estates to blend into the natural environment. It will take people power not just Okehampton Town Council power to bring those in control to their senses.? Cllr Leech said it had been a good year for Okehampton with the opening of the new swimming pool and leisure centre at Parklands, which was proving very successful. He praised the revamped Museum of Dartmoor Life as a ?delight?, adding ?we have to promote it at every opportunity if it is going to be able to flourish?. The mayor said he was also now more hopeful a solution might be found where Okehampton could retain its 70-year-old cinema. Cllr Leech thanked his mayor?s cadet of the past 12 months, Ricky Moore, for all his help, and introduced his new mayor?s cadet from Okehampton ATC, Ben Stephens. Cllr Leech admitted it had been a ?struggle at times? juggling the demands of a full-time job with his mayoral duties, but said nevertheless he was looking forward to serving the town again. ?It has been an absolute privilege for Sue and I to represent you all,? he said. He thanked all those he had met and worked with since taking on the office 12 months ago. Cllr Frances Luxton, who proposed Cllr Leech for town mayor for a second term, said: ?Tony has been a very good envoy for Okehampton when he goes to other towns.? Cllr Mike Davies echoed this, describing Cllr Leech as the ?most suitable mayor? and noting he had done a ?fantastic job?. Cllr Davies was again elected as deputy town mayor. Cllr Leech described his deputy as an ?enthusiastic member of the council? and said he hoped they could continue to work together in the future for the good of Okehampton.
