TOWN councillors in Okehampton are to hold monthly surgeries at the town hall to raise their profile with people living in the area.

The suggestion was put forward by Cllr Julie Yelland at the town council on Monday – and backed by all members.

‘I suggest that it would be a good idea to hold a regular surgery once a month, except in August and December. People could either do it in pairs or on their own,’ she said.

‘It is a way for people to come in and talk to us about issues and for us to signpost people, if necessary, to the right people. I thought it would be a nice way to raise the profile of the council in a year when we are coming up for elections.

‘It is something that I would be keen to do and I wanted to see what councillors thought about it.’

Cllr Tony Leech said he thought it was a good idea, although he had tried it without success in his first year as mayor. ‘In 12 months I think three people came forward [to see us].’

Cllr Christine Marsh had also tried surgeries when she was mayor, again without much success. ‘I was thinking that with the closure of the West Devon Borough Council offices though we might get more people to come forward,’ she said.