CHART-topping trio Atomic Kitten and star singer Lulu are set to help kick-start a major regeneration project for the Okehampton area.
Exciting plans for community involvement in the project will culminate with a concert by the two top acts in Simmons Park on Saturday November 17.
Atomic Kitten and Lulu, who are collaborating on a forthcoming single, will perform in a big top which will be a hive of entertainment and exhibitions throughout the day.
This unique idea, to encourage people to become involved in the Market and Coastal Town Initiative (M&CTI) and have their say on what projects should go forward for a 'virtual' £1-million of Government funding, is the brainchild of the local steering group assigned to take the initiative forward.
Following its music day in August which saw the English Symphony Orchestra, the Wurzels and a medley of original 60s bands perform in the park, Okehampton FirstAid is taking full advantage of the large venue, which has a capacity of 10,000 people, to bring some more high quality entertainment to the town in the evening.
More than 90 community groups and organisations have already booked to exhibit in the big top where they will be seeking public opinion on their proposed projects during the day.
Chairman of the group John Smith from Devon County Council said it was an imaginative idea to get people buzzing about the scheme.
When the South West Regional Development Agency announced that Okehampton and its hinterland — including North Tawton and Chagford — was one of seven Devon market towns to be eligible for monies under the M&CTI earlier this year, it stressed that the project would be community-led and every resident in the locality would be involved.
Having gained input from local people, the steering group will put together a vision for its future called a community strategic plan. Projects within the plan will then go forward for funding.
Mr Smith said: 'What we are trying hard to do is to ensure that the final plan is representative of the views, aspiration and needs of as many people as possible.
'People have been questionnaired and consulted to death about things in the past. We feel by having an interactive environment in a big top in Simmons Park we will hopefully connect with parts of the community who do not respond to the more traditional methods of consultation.'
Co-ordinator of the Market and Coastal Town Initiative Cherida Fletcher from the SWRDA said the agency was providing funding to enable the community consultation to take place, but this would not come out of the fund for regeneration projects.
'Okehampton is having a community consultation with knobs on — it is a very different way of doing things but these are the steps that need to be taken to come up with Okehampton's vision.'
Trustees of the charity FirstAid, set up to help the community regenerate after the foot and mouth crisis, are thrilled that major acts Atomic Kitten and Lulu have agreed to be part of the day's events.
'The music day showed that we could have a very professionally run show with top acts in our backyard rather than having to travel to Exeter or Plymouth,' said Okehampton mayor and FirstAid trustee Christine Marsh.
'I hope people will support the evening performance which promises to be something really wonderful.'
It is the third concert organised by FirstAid in a 12-month calendar of events which it hopes will see Okehampton grow as a major arts and cultural centre in Devon.
Inspector Keith Perkin of Okehampton Police said the police were fully behind the project and in order to support the community regenerate they would be keeping costs to a minimum .
'We are confident that the organisers have everything in place in terms of security and health and safety,' he said. 'We will be putting in place a policy plan and extra resources will be used if necessary but we do not envisage any problems.'
Spokesman for Atomic Kitten, Gordon Duncan said the girls are 'really happy' to be playing at the Okehampton event.
'There are loads of towns around the country which have suffered in the wake of the foot and mouth crisis and they hope that they can help and get people into the area again as well as making it a great party for everyone,' he said.
Lulu's spokesman Paul Carey said the whole reason for doing the gig was for the rural community.
He said the bubbly Scottish singer was 'very pleased' to be involved.
'She is glad to do a show like this. She does shows all over the place and it is particularly good to come to somewhere like this.
'Not everyone lives in cities. Most people live in rural towns so it is nice for Lulu to be able to come down to meet the fans,' said Paul.
Glasgow-born Lulu shot to fame in 1964 with the hit single, Shout. She has since represented Great Britain at the Eurovision Song Contest and been a major star on TV and in the charts.
Atomic Kitten debued in 1999 with their hit single Right Now. The current hit is a cover of the Bangles' Eternal Flame and a new single is due out two days after the Simmons Park concert.
l Tickets for the evening concert, priced at £18, are available from Ticketzone on 08705 321321.