ENHANCEMENTS worth many thousands of pounds were applauded by West Devon councillors recently when they were briefed on the list of projects undertaken in Okehampton in the last two years.

Some 18 schemes ranging from street lighting and new seats to the Fairplace refurbishment project have been undertaken and a revised priority list for further works was agreed by the council?s economic and leisure committee.

These were a coach ?layover? facility, a feasibility study for the Old Mill, a Mill Road car park footpath link and improved signage.

David Inman, deputy chief executive, said the ?recycled? Waitrose money and European funding had changed the face of Okehampton ?quite considerably?.

But he warned the balance of the Waitrose receipt ? some £115,000 ? needed to be treated carefully in the light of the ongoing Okehampton Sports Centre scheme.

Cllr John Hockridge said: ?Enhancement has really given Okehampton a facelift and made it a busy town, whereas a few years ago it was in decline.

?A lot of schemes were being mocked by Okehampton people and now they are saying what wonderful things have been done.?

Cllr Dick Eberlie said: ?I think this is very good news indeed ? I was wondering whether we should be blowing our own trumpet a bit here.

?When I think back, Okehampton was worse than a one--horse town ? it probably didn?t even have a horse. Now it?s a thriving community and West Devon has played a significant part in that.?

Cllr Dennis Bater said one of the biggest priorities in his view for future improvements in Okehampton was a link road to take traffic away from the town centre.

He also suggested Okehampton Rugby Club could possibly be used to lay up coaches.

?It lies empty during the week, it?s not far from the town and it might be a way of boosting funds for the rugby club,? he said.

Cllr Joan Pauley had several suggestions for further enhancing the town. She welcomed the idea of using the rugby club for coaches and said there was a need for a bus shelter outside Waitrose.

?There?s a great need for older people who are waiting to be picked up, and children, to have a seat. Many?s the time I?ve seen children sitting on the floor there ? surely one could find enough money to provide one or two seats??

Cllr Pauley also wanted the ?hideous, black, tarred wall? at the Old Mill site tidied up.

?Something to improve the appearance would be welcomed by the town,? she said.

The committee heard the question of the link road could not be considered in context of the balance of the Waitrose receipt, but that it could be added to the enhancement report as a ?rider?.

And chief executive David Incoll suggested it be brought to West Devon partnership committee.

?It might be useful to get it on the agenda, that the people of the area expect this to be one of the top five projects. I don?t think you can over-publicise this issue,? he said.