OKEHAMPTON Town Council?s recently co-opted new member Dr Michael Ireland says he wants to use his experience to promote tourism opportunities in the town. Cllr Ireland said he was excited by the potential for ?economic and cultural development? in the town. He said: ?Tourism lies at the heart of Okehampton?s future. I would be interested in liaison between the town council and West Devon Borough Council to develop opportunities for sustainable tourism, thus creating employment and enhancing the environment. ?The overall goal would be to provide all year round well-paid employment for people who wish to live and work in Okehampton after completing their education.? Cllr Ireland said he was currently working with Cornwall County Council as a member of a policy task group to establish a tourism footprint for Cornwall and he hoped this experience could be used to benefit Okehampton. Another key issue Cllr Ireland said he hoped to be examine was that of affordable housing. Cllr Ireland fills the vacancy left after Mike Davies, who had to combine church and business commitments with being a councillor for the last two years, chose to step down last month. Mr Davies was elected onto the council in May 2003 and served as chair of the properties committee. He had been deputy mayor to Cllr Tony Leech, this role has been taken on by Cllr Frances Luxton for the remainder of the mayoral year. Cllr Ireland is the third councillor to be co-opted this year, following Cllr Peter Stunell and Cllr Kay Bickley. Cllr Ireland was brought up and educated in Okehampton and was a founder member of Dartmoor Rescue Group north moor section, having joined at the age of 18. His career as a university lecturer brought him back to Devon in 1992 when he took up a position at the College of St Mark and St John in Plymouth.
