A PUBLIC meeting is being held in Okehampton on Friday July 16 for members of the public to ask West Devon borough councillors questions about the core strategy.

The meeting at 7pm in the Ockment Centre is open to anyone from the borough and it is hoped many councillors will be present.

Organiser Alan Brown, who is an Okehampton resident, said: 'This meeting is to allow the general public to ask questions directly to our councillors regarding the core strategy and about the substitution of our local councillors.

'I very much hope that as many people as possible come along and voice their concerns.'

Mr Brown said, through letters in the Okehampton and Tavistock Times, many people had required answers to their questions so this was their opportunity to support the future of their towns.

There was outcry when Conservative councillor Christine Marsh claimed she was substituted by her political party at a meeting earlier this year to vote on the core strategy because she was going to vote against it. The controversial core strategy proposals include 750 new houses for Tavistock and 900 for Okehampton.

The figures were based on targets set by the previous Labour Government but the new coalition Government has said local authorities should make decisions regarding housing and planning in the future.

This announcement has resulted in some authorities taking another look at their core strategy proposals.

Cllr Alison Clish-Green asked council chief executive David Incoll at a recent full council meeting how the changes to return decision making powers to local authorities would impact on the current version of West Devon Borough Council's core strategy.

Mr Incoll said in a statement this week: 'We will be submitting the core strategy to the Government. Clearly, if the Government changes the national approach to strategic planning its inspectors will be able to amend our plans, which cover the period up to 2026.

'Equally, our members will wish to follow any changes in legislation by the coalition Government. In the meantime we are aware of developer interest in both Tavistock and Okehampton who see these towns as attractive for both new residential and retail developments.

'We wish to ensure we have strategic plans in place that protect the main town centre retail areas from any new out of town supermarket proposals and ensure any new housing development is appropriately located and contributes to the affordable housing needs of local people and the infrastructure needs.'