A SENSE of old-fashioned neighbourly spirit was evident on one of the newer estates in Okehampton last week.

People gathered in the play park at Turpins Plot for the latest meeting of the Broadlands Residents' Association.

The group, which held its first meeting in April, has been set up to create a sense of community among people living on the Broadlands estate and to work towards making things better for the community.

At the meeting, which was bathed in glorious sunshine, residents met representatives from local groups and associations to discuss a number of issues, including recycling, rubbish disposal, drainage, and parking.

Debra Preen, the chair of the residents' association, hoped the meeting would get residents 'talking to the right people' and 'give the group a momentum' to resolve issues on the estate.

She said: 'The meeting was productive, and there were quite a few different people there to those we have had at our meetings before.

'It is going to be slow to drum up interest, but people can get in touch via our Facebook or e-mail, and hopefully get more involved.

'If we can get one thing done for the estate, hopefully more people will get on board.'

The relaxed atmosphere and outdoor setting for the meeting brought to mind an old-fashioned sense of community found more often in small villages. Among those in attendance were town and borough councillor Tony Leech, Okehampton police officer Matt Evans, housing officer Angela Burbidge from Devon and Cornwall Housing, and representatives from West Devon Borough Council.

Cllr Leech has been involved with the group since it was started, providing information for the group to contact West Devon Borough Council and the town council on any issues they may have.

He said: 'When Debra came to me and said she wanted to set up this association and get some pride in where they live, it seemed a great idea.

'West Devon Borough Council are very happy to have a tenants' association they can talk to directly on issues affecting people there. Things are looking positive.

'I certainly think groups like this are the way forward on estates in the town, especially the newer ones and ones being built now.

'As the new estates get built, we must look at the issues facing people on these sort of estates, and design them out of the equation.'

The main issues discussed were rubbish and parking, which currently affect the majority of people living on Broadlands, and street lighting issues at Turpins Plot.

Parking is a particular issue for residents, with some worried that emergency vehicles will struggle to make it around the estate due to parking blocking the narrow roads.

As well as trying to tackle these issues, the group is hoping to organise a summer barbecue and bonfire night event to try and bring people on the estate together.

Mrs Preen said: 'We want to deal with real grass-roots stuff; things that affect people directly and each day. We want to help change things for the better in our community.

'The community is a bit fractured. People keep themselves to themselves, and there have been a few issues here. Hopefully together we can overcome that.

'The group is here so people don't have to suffer in silence, they have a voice, and can raise any issues affecting them.'

To find out more about the group, visit the Broadlands Residents' Association 2013 Facebook page or e-mail [email protected]">[email protected]