STAND up and be counted — that is the rallying call from a new action group in Okehampton, which is determined to see people power win through against development plans they feel are wrong for the town.

The Okehampton and Area Residents' Action Group wants to drive out the apathy it claims has existed for years in the town because of people's frustration that their views do not count.

It is critical of local authority decisions that it says have been detrimental to Okehampton, including the loss of the coach park and pannier market and the lack of help to attract and support new shops.

Group member John Love said West Devon Borough Council's core strategy, which proposes 900 new homes for the east of the town over the next 16 years, was the final straw. Almost 1,000 people have signed the group's petition against the proposals over the last two weeks.

The document, which dictates development throughout the borough, will be scrutinised at a public inquiry next month.

Mr Love said: 'Residents are demonstrating by signing that they are not only against where these houses are sited, but also question the real need for such large numbers.

'However, the real issue is the lack of vision and cohesive planning in this town, both now and in the past.'

'If we stand up and make ourselves heard, we can change Okehampton and make our town a better place to live, not a split community.'

He said over the last decade Okehampton had not only lost many things which had given it its identity like the livestock market and pannier market, it had also lost its pride.

'There is no fight here anymore,' he said.

'For years people have been saying no to the core strategy as it has unfolded, but it still goes through — it is the officers that want it, not the people.

'The borough council will say they have consulted, but the response to the roadshows was low.

'When officers and councillors come to public meetings and speak to people in the street, the overwhelming reaction is against their plans — why is no-one listening?'

Action group member Teresa Bishop said there was now serious doubt over whether the new junior school would be built to cater for new homes being built and planned.

'Decisions are made like giving planning consent for a builders' merchant in North Road when the link road already has 100 lorries each weekday and night travelling up through Barton Road and onto Exeter Road as well as numerous vans and cars,' she said.

'The people we talk to have been saying that they have a deep mistrust of the borough council and there is no point in saying anything or attending meetings because decisions have already been made.'

She said the fact the borough had not re-looked at its core strategy in light of the new Government's policies had deepened the mistrust.

'We want to warn the council that we have had enough and we need to be listened to. Sensible planning decisions are needed and adjustments made, if necessary, so that common sense prevails and trust is rebuilt.'

Central Devon MP Mel Stride and a member of the Okehampton-based Devon Heartlands team are expected to speak against the core strategy proposals at the public inquiry.

Chief executive of West Devon Borough Council David Incoll said officers and elected members of the council attended meetings of the Devon Heartlands forum on the first Wednesday in every month at the Ockment Centre and there was ongoing dialogue about the core strategy.

The meetings started at 2pm and were open to anyone.

'If we want investment in Okehampton we have to have a local development framework,' he said.

'If we want to plan for the future like a new road at the back of Oaklands to take the supermarket traffic, we have to have the resources in place. What we have done is what the Government is looking for.'

The borough council said over the last ten years it had delivered and helped to secure £120,000 investment in the town centre area, the toilets at Fairplace, Waitrose, Parklands Leisure Centre, the council shop in St James Street, Opportunity Okehampton, improvements to Okehampton Railway Station and the Museum of Dartmoor Life plus numerous other projects.