THE chairman of Okehampton Chamber of Trade Richard Appleby has announced he will step down in the New Year, but says he has ?thoroughly enjoyed? his time at the helm, working with people ?who really care about Okehampton?. Mr Appleby, who runs Millenium Music in the Arcade, took over the post two years ago after long-running chairman Ian Bailey decided to concentrate on other interests. Mr Appleby will be stepping down at the chamber?s annual meeting which takes place on Thursday, January 18. William Cornish will also be stepping down from the office of president. Mr Appleby said: ?I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as chair of the chamber, especially as it has given me the chance to work with a super committee who really care about Okehampton, and who have all contributed greatly to our successes over the last couple of years. ?However, I am a firm believer in introducing fresh faces into the chamber and the committee, partly from the benefit the group can gain from new ideas, and partly from the very valuable opportunity of personal development for the new officers.? Mr Appleby said there were new opportunities as well as enduring challenges for the person to face. ?There are exciting developments on the horizon, such as the possibility of a new food park coming into our industrial estate and the hint of real progress on our long wished for inner relief road, together with the possibility of space for coach parking. ?We are also seeing rapid growth of Okehampton in other ways ? new houses keep on sprouting up, together with new facilities for sports, swimming, the cinema and the continued growth of our cultural and social activities, including Okehampton Show, the Army Camp open days, the Battle of the Bands and the Baring Gould Festival.? Mr Appleby said all these changes had an impact on the business community and the chamber was the only independent body set up to represent the interests of that community. Mr Appleby said he would be keen to hear from anyone who wanted to join the committee, or who had any nominations for the offices of chairman or president.
