A DEDICATED fund designated to efforts to bring the railway back to Okehampton has been set up by Okehampton Town Council. The council working group Destination Okehampton has been working hard over the past few months on a strategy to boost the chances of ensuring a rail service returns to Okehampton. To aid their efforts, the council has pledged to set aside up to 1% of the 2014/15 precept for this purpose, taken from the legal and professional fees budget. The council will write to Tavistock Town Council and other interested councils to request that they provide funding in the same proportion relative to their precept. In the past few months, Destination Okehampton has met with representatives from numerous communities, including from Okehampton Hamlets, Tavistock, Sampford Courtenay, North Tawton, Bow, Stowford, Bideford, Launceston and Buckland Monachorum in an effort to form a united front advocating the return of the railway. It is hoped that having councils, organisations and representatives from across the region advocating the return of the Okehampton line will add weight to the argument that the return of the line could bring huge economic benefits to West Devon, Torridge, North Devon and parts of Cornwall. Cllr Dr Michael Ireland is the chairman of Destination Okehampton, and has long been a strong advocate for the return of the railway. He told members at this week's meeting of the council's policy and resources committee: 'I think it'd be useful to set aside an amount, irrespective of who else contributes. 'I suggest we start this off, because if we don't we will not get any momentum. The money will be needed to support our project and help give the town the best chance of bringing the railway back to Okehampton.' Cllr Jan Goffey echoed Cllr Ireland's sentiments: 'Creating this fund sends a clear message we are giving this the importance it deserves, and says to the whole area that we are serious about it. 'It is very important to try and re-establish a rail connection to Exeter and the wider area.' Some of the money will be used to commission an independent report by a professional rail consultant to prove the actual costs and the benefits of having the line reinstated.