THE Ockment Centre in Okehampton has received a financial ?kick-start? as it bids to ensure a viable and sustainable future. At a meeting with centre trustees last week, Devon County Council proposed a ?substantial? package of financial and other support to enable the facility to remain open for the immediate future. It was met with agreement by centre trustees, thus staving off its threatened imminent closure. County council leader Cllr Brian Greenslade, executive support member, Cllr Sally Morgan, Okehampton county Cllr Christine Marsh, and county council officers, Robert Grangier and Louise Raymond, met the trustees in a bid to find a way forward for the centre. The trustees outlined their concerns over maintaining the building and how these needs could be met. The greatest and most immediate concern is the need for a new roof to replace the Victorian original. Also of urgent need is a new central heating system as the existing system is inefficient in both energy and cost. Cllr Greenslade put forward the proposal of a cash commitment from the county council which would provide a boost to the funding package needed to enable the centre to remain open. He said: ?Devon County Council recognises the value of the Ockment Centre as a community anchor, providing a broad spectrum of services to a diverse range of people and a focus for voluntary services in the town. ?In supporting the trustees to provide a solution, I am confident that the package we can provide is key to the centre?s immediate problems and one that will ensure its long-term viability.? The council has agreed to provide £250,000 towards the cost of repairing the roof and replacing the boiler, along with a further one-off payment of £25,000, together with a three-month ?rent holiday? while the work takes place. Lindsey Svensson, manager of the Ockment Centre, said: ?This is a fantastic kick-start but we?re not out of trouble yet. We now have enough money to keep going until the end of the financial year. ?I personally would like to thank everyone in the town for mobilising, writing letters and for all their support. ?I have been overwhelmed by the support from the Okehampton Times, Okehampton mayor Tony Leech and all the town councillors. I would also like to thank West Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox for rallying on our behalf. ?This turnaround by Devon County Councilwould not have happened without this support. ?We?re hopeful West Devon Borough Council and other local organisations will work with us to complete the package to ensure a viable and sustainable future.? Cllr Marsh said: ?I am delighted that a solution has been found, which will enable the centre to grow and provide even more services to the community it serves. ?Okehampton needs community facilities like the Ockment Centre for a whole range of services and it is really wonderful news that it will remain open.? Cllr Marsh added that she will be looking to the borough council and charitable groups in the town for extra support for the centre. Okehampton mayor, Tony Leech, said: ?A lot of people have put a lot of work into this. I?m very pleased we have a result at this time but this is not the end, it is the beginning. ?Devon County Council has given the Ockment Centre a respite, it?s now up to all the councils to put money in the pot to keep the centre open.? Judy Pride, chair of the centre?s board of trustees, said: ?Since our decision to close the centre we have been inundated with messages of support from the public, which demonstrates the regard people have for the centre. We are all very touched and incredibly grateful. ?We thank Cllr Greenslade and Devon County Council for their generous offer of support, which has come as a result of the county council responding to a local community. ?This contribution will enable us to undertake the necessary repairs to the building and move forward. We will now be discussing what further funding opportunities we can secure to help us achieve a long future for the centre and the services we offer. ?It is a great start; but we are not there yet.? The uncertain future of the centre arose from the county council?s earlier decision not to site a proposed new children?s centre at the Ockment, which would have given it viability into the next decade. Instead, the children?s centre will be sited at the new primary school when it is built in three years? time.
