A REQUEST for £2,000 to provide finger post signs in Okehampton was last week rejected by the town council?s parks committee, pending further information.
The committee has been approached by West Devon Borough Council, which wants to replace finger posts which were removed during town centre enhancement posts.
In a letter to the council, the borough?s tourism officer, Nadine Trout, said: ?It is considered that up to ten cast iron finger posts should be erected in the town to assist in visitor flow. The estimated cost for the provision of these posts is £10,000.?
Ms Trout requested a minimum of £2,000 from the town to take the project forward, with funding also being sought from Devon County Council?s highways department and the Museum of Dartmoor Life. The borough?s policy committee has agreed to provide up to £5,000 match funding for the project.
She said there would be full consultation involving the town council as to the exact number and positioning of the posts.
?I do hope the town council looks favourably upon this request, as assisting visitor flow in the town will ensure visitors make the most of their visit and in turn, spend money at the town?s many attractions,? said Ms Trout.
But members of the parks committee were concerned that the three finger posts at St James Church, Red Lion Yard and Fairplace appeared to have ?disappeared?.
?That?s £3,000 worth of equipment which somebody has responsibility for,? said Cllr Charles Letchford.
?If they lost them ? they can replace them,? said Cllr Frances Luxton.
?I can?t see that we need ten of them,? said Cllr Snell.
Town clerk Don Bent told the committee there was no money in this year?s budget to accommodate the borough?s request.
The committee agreed to request further information regarding new finger posts and the whereabouts of the old ones ? the issue would also be raised at the next link liaison meeting.