A TRANSFORMATION is in the pipeline for Okehampton Town Centre and local residents are being urged to jump on board the train of support.

Plans by Okehampton architect Peter Woodgate to revamp West Street and Fore Street have received a giant thumbs up from the town council, the town's Traffic and Enhancement Group and officers from West Devon Borough Council — and now it's the public's turn to give its verdict.

At a public meeting next Thursday in the Charter Hall, people will see proposals to landscape and 'soften' the two streets by adding trees, plants, paving and seats and creating features reflecting the town's heritage. The whole emphasis is on giving Okehampton its own identity and the project is expected to cost in the region of £300,000.

Mr Woodgate is also proposing feature posts each side of Fore Street to which can be attached banners, flags or artwork promoting events in Okehampton such as the Arts Festival and Ten Tors and a hiker wall sculpture in St James Street.

Addressing the town council this week, mayor Christine Marsh urged members to grab this project with both hands because after September European 5B money would no longer be available for the scheme.

'This will be the best thing to happen to Okehampton in a long time.' she said. 'Unfortunately for traders there will be a bit of disruption through the summer while this work goes on but there will be something very good to show for it.

'If we do not take this opportunity now we will lose this money and I do not think we will get another opportunity again so easily.'

A £1-million revamp for Okehampton is planned over the next few months, half of that money coming from Europe under the 5B scheme. The enhancement of Fairplace and the Mill Road - town centre link are two other schemes which are imminent.

Mr Woodgate told town councillors this week Okehampton was an historic town that needed to present an alternative to other towns and have its own identity.

'I do not want Okehampton to be a museum but I believe we should develop our heritage so we have our own identity whilst at the same time bringing forward progressive ideas,' he said.

The architect has proposed trees on the islands in Fore Street which can be decorated with lights at Christmas with the illumination of St James Chapel in the background. At West Street he has suggested replacing fencing along the river with planting and opening up the area to allow better views and attract picnickers in the summer.

Deputy chief executive of West Devon Borough Council David Inman praised Peter Woodgate for all the work he had done.

'Peter has put in a tremendous amount of work and introduced concepts which people so far seem to be liking,' he said. 'We have been given this opportunity to revamp the town and it is encouraging to hear the amount of support the work is getting from within the town.'

He said European funds would be harder to access later this year when the new Objective Two system came in.

Match-funding for the schemes will come from the Waitrose receipt and Devon County Council.

Chairman of the Okehampton Traffic and Enhancement Group Coleen Herriman said when Mr Woodgate presented his outline proposals to the group recently, they received unanimous support.

'The meeting was a very positive one and we are all delighted that future enhancement work is to be done in the town, she said.

'We are looking forward to receiving detailed plans at the next meeting and once these have been agreed the wish is that work should start as soon as possible.'

Mrs Herriman said working in partnership was the key to drawing important investment into the town.

'We have a town to be proud of and it is a good feeling to know we are now getting a great deal of positive attention and plans which have been in the pipeline for such a long time are now coming to fruition.'