A BIG thumbs-down has been given to Okehampton's controversial St James' Chapel area enhancement scheme by the town's leading citizen.

Cllr Christine Marsh, Okehampton's mayor, said she is deeply disappointed with the on-going work commissioned by West Devon Borough Council.

She stressed her comments stemmed from a personal point of view and did not represent the town council, but that they echoed many concerns voiced to her by townspeople.

'People keep asking "What do you think about it?" I just think it's sad,' said Cllr Marsh.

'It's a beautiful church with a lot of history and I just feel it looks as if the church has been put down somewhere it shouldn't be.

'It's more like something in a new town. It's supposed to depict rivers which are natural, beautiful things. This doesn't depict our rivers — it's cold and hard,' she said.

Cllr Marsh admitted the scheme was not complete — she was trying to keep an open mind but was 'disappointed' at the work so far.

'A tree, great, but that won't make up for the mixture of colours and textures. It's like someone wearing a spotty tie with a striped shirt and checked jacket — nothing really links it together,' she said.

'There are so many bits, somebody said it would be better near the beach because it's got so much sand — and apparently one lady walking there with bad eyesight felt giddy, because it was so bad for her eyes.'

Cllr Marsh was also concerned sand between the granite blocks would be quickly washed away.

She said she was 'all for' moving forward, but with great care so future townspeople could look at Okehampton with pride.

'To a degree they have consulted people, but their idea and the general people's idea is just not the same. You have to talk to people in everyday language.

'Have the people concerned got the guts to admit maybe this is wrong and not in keeping? I hope so.

'It's money that could have been better spent on something else.'

Chairman of St James' Chapel Trustees the Rev Russell Chamberlain said he was 'not at all happy' with the way the scheme looked so far.

'We said right at the outset we preferred our own scheme, and West Devon insisted on imposing their own ideas.

'The feeling generally of the community seems to be that they don't much like what they see, although on the other hand, the work hasn't finished yet.

'We certainly feel that some more could have been achieved.'

David Inman, borough deputy chief executive and project officer, was not available to comment.

But Mike Parnell, the county's local service officer who sits on the enhancement group committee, said he would be 'very surprised' if people felt they had been ignored.

'All representative groups such as the town council, Okehampton 2000, Okehampton OK, the Chamber and Trustees have been involved in the development of the scheme, and they represent local people.

'As far as I can see I am implementing a scheme approved by all these people and the local authorities.

'There was also quite a lot of discussion in the press, with the plan actually having been published in the press not very long ago.'

Mr Parnell said problems with workmanship, for example sand washing away, would be taken up with the contractors.

The £130,000 enhancement has been dogged by disagreements between the borough and chapel trustees.

They preferred a plan drawn up by a local architect — the borough has pressed ahead with a scheme by artist Ray Smith, commissioned to come up with a series of concepts for Okehampton's regeneration.

It includes the 'river' paved area, seats, two trees, some bicycle racks and railings depicting tors and a climber.