SEATS and granite troughs planted with flowers are part of plans for the enhancement of the centre of Bere Ferrers.

The area around the war memorial has caused concern for some time, with the rough ground — including bare, unlevelled rock — being considered dangerous and the site being in need of enhancement.

Plans for improvements to the area were drawn up a few years ago by the local Villagers' Group, who carried out a consultation locally. More recently they have liaised with the parish council to move the scheme on.

Tamar Valley Services have now agreed to facilitate the work on behalf of the Market and Coastal Towns initiative and apply for funding for the project — with an estimated cost of between £20,000 to £30,000.

A spokesman for the parish council said in preparation for the bid for funding, John Page, design engineer with Devon County Council, had drawn up new plans for the area.

'Mr Page felt the area should be kept as natural as possible and proposed levelling the mudstone bedrock to suitable levels,' she said. Both this and the original scheme proposed removing the existing tarmac.

Details of both plans, with questionnaires, were circulated to residents prior to a village consultation meeting last week.

Mr Page said at the meeting that the wishes of parishioners were 'of paramount importance'.

The parish council is still liaising with the land agent of the owner of the area — the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe — concerning the project.

'Following the meeting, we now have a third plan incorporating everything,' the council spokesman said.

Granite troughs were agreed to provide planting, as against a garden area. The cobbled pavements across the road from the memorial will be reflected by a cobbled, stepped path with granite edging and a handrail down the side of the area, and there will be a parking area incorporated.

'Someone wanted a trough to provide water for passing horses, which is being looked into. The position of the two seats has also yet to be decided,' she said.

The cobbled guttering will be re-laid to a depth of 10mm to prevent problems for pedestrians.

Strategically-placed planters and a difference in levels between the road and the levelled bedrock will prevent the memorial being used as a roundabout. If the levelling of the bedrock is not successful the area will be cobbled.

Some residents had suggested planting a tree to replace one which used to be on the site many years ago, but it was discovered the original tree had been planted in a planter around eight feet deep.

It was thought the war memorial stood on the site of this, and there would not be enough earth elsewhere, but the matter would be investigated.

'Exploratory work will also be carried out on the concrete rendering on the side of the memorial to determine whether there is granite underneath which could be exposed. If not, the memorial will be faced with granite,' the spokesman added.

Another feature of the area, the tap trough dating from 1852, would be renovated and ties inserted to stop it collapsing.

The parish council invites anyone in the village who has concerns about the plans to write to them — letters can be left at The Lanterna for forwarding or can be collected by the council on 840748.