A LONG-STANDING request by traders in the town for coach parking in Okehampton is close to becoming a reality. In recent months, West Devon Borough Council has been working with Okehampton Town Council and the Okehampton Vision group to bring plans for coach parking into fruition. Following the demolition of the toilet block in the borough council's car park on Mill Road, three coach spaces have been painted in the car park. The preliminary work to paint the three parking bays has been carried out ahead of the summer season in the hope that coach parking will be available for the main holiday season. Donna Tombs, chair of Okehampton and District Chamber of Trade, said: 'The Okehampton and District Chamber of Trade has been campaigning for coach parking since it was lost 15 years ago and we are absolutely delighted to hear that we are one step closer to that goal. 'Okehampton is most definitely a tourist destination for those people who can get here by car, but the town needs a regular train service to connect with the rest of the country, and adequate coach parking to encourage day-trippers to visit our lovely town. 'This will go a long way to helping resolve one of those problems at least.' A spokesman for West Devon Borough Council said: 'There have been calls for coach parking in Okehampton for more than 15 years as a way to increase the number of visitors to the town and help boost the local economy. 'The borough council has talked to the local business located at the entrance to the car park and arranged alternative parking for its vehicles. 'We liaised closely with Devon County Council before starting work on the project and our engineers assessed the site for coach parking.  ' A local coach driver also worked with us and carried out testing which involved driving onto the site and parking up.  'The new layout of the car park follows national guidelines on the size and type of bays required for coaches. 'The arrangement has not yet been formalised and an amendment to the Off-Street Parking Places Order will need to be made.  'During this process there will be a public consultation and residents will be able to have their say. 'The preliminary work has been done at this early stage in the hope that coach parking will be available for this year's main holiday season – something the town council is keen to see happen. 'It is worth pointing out that in the past five years parking habits nationally have changed dramatically and data from the borough council's pay and display machine in the Mill Road car park shows the facility is not well used and is rarely, if ever, busy.  'We would like to thank everyone involved in the project for making this long term aspiration a reality after so long.' County and borough councillor Kevin Ball has used money from his locality budget to partially fund the work. He said: 'Since I've been a town councillor it is something people have been asking for. 'In my very first town council meeting, which was about six or seven years ago, it was something that was raised. 'Our town council working group Destination Okehampton did a SWOT – strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats – analysis around three years ago with business people and residents of Okehampton. 'In the four areas analysed, which were leisure, tourism, infrastructure and business, coach parking was something raised in all four areas. 'People in the town regularly ask the question why don't we do more to promote the town. 'This ticks all the boxes. It is only three bays, but it offers coach parking that we haven't had in a long time. 'It has taken us a long time to find a site to be able to work out, but this will give tourists a chance to come into the town. 'We want to celebrate the town, have people come in and spend their money, and breathe more life into the town centre. This can only be seen as a positive thing.' To find out more about the plans, e-mail [email protected]">[email protected] • What are your thoughts on the scheme? Get in touch and let us know at [email protected]">[email protected]