CONTROVERSIAL proposals to take the Okehampton area out of the West Devon and Torridge parliamentary constituency and group it with Exeter have provoked outrage among politicians and councillors in the area.

Under the Boundary Commission?s proposals, which go before a public enquiry in Exeter next week, Okehampton would fall under a new seat called Mid Devon.

It would be made up of four wards from Exeter, seven from Teignbridge and the wards of Chagford, Drewsteignton, Exbourne, Hatherleigh, Lew Valley, North Tawton, Okehampton East, Okehampton West and South Tawton.

But the idea has outraged many, who say Okehampton and the rural area around it has nothing in common with an urban area like Exeter.

West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett said he was strongly opposed to the proposals which would ?carve up? his constituency.

?I and my predecessor have used Okehampton for the constituency office because it is a crucial link between what is effectively three distinct areas within the constituency ? the Bideford area, the vast rural hinterland, including Dartmoor, of which Okehampton is the capital, and the Tavistock and Bere Peninsula area.

?Okehampton is a vital link here and has virtually no affinity with the west of Exeter ? I strongly oppose these proposals and I have made my views known to the Boundary Commission.?

Mr Burnett said he felt there were too many MPs and ministers as it was and to have bigger constituencies with greater populations would save a ?huge amount of public money?.

David Incoll, West Devon Borough Council?s chief executive, said in economic terms, the Okehampton area had little in common with the more prosperous mid Devon and west Exeter area. He said the council was of the opinion that removing Okehampton from the constituency would take away its traditional

centre.

?It would be very hard to find a common focus for the constituency,? he said.

Cllr Peter Hill, mayor of West Devon, is due to speak at the public inquiry on behalf of the borough.

Cllr Hill said: ?This is not a very impressive proposal. I think it would leave the MP for the new constituency with quite a task, being spread amongst what looks to be four district council areas, plus the huge difference in approach between urban living and country living.

?It also makes the remainder of the West Devon and Torridge constituency very odd ? you eat out the middle and leave these two areas north and south, which have very little in common.?

Cllr Christine Marsh, mayor of Okehampton, said the town council was ?one hundred per cent? opposed to the changes.

?City and townspeople are different. City people don?t understand the rural issues in the same way, that was highlighted during foot and mouth. Exeter didn?t have any idea what was going on in the countryside,? she said.

?I don?t think Exeter wants us any more than we want Exeter,? said Cllr Marsh.

Debbie Laing-Trengove, mayor of Hatherleigh, said she was against the proposals and said people in the area felt part of West Devon, having little in common with those living in Exeter.

The Boundary Commission?s decision to create a 12th constituency within Devon has been prompted by the growth in the county?s population over recent years. The public enquiry begins on Monday December 8.