OKEHAMPTON Town Council is likely to be the lead authority in commissioning an independent professional report analysing how the return of the rail line from Plymouth to Exeter through Okehampton could benefit the entire region. Council repre-sentatives from Okehampton Hamlets, Tavistock, Sampford Courtenay, North Tawton, Bow, Stowford, Bideford, Launceston and Buckland Monachorum joined Okehampton town councillors at a meeting of the town council working group Destination Okehampton on Monday night to discuss a strategy to help boost the chances of ensuring a rail service returns to Okehampton and Tavistock. It is hoped that having councils, organisations and representatives from across the region advocating the return of the Okehampton line will add weight to the argument that the return of the line could bring huge economic benefits to West Devon, Torridge, North Devon and parts of Cornwall. The severe damage to the Dawlish line during storms earlier this year has highlighted the need to make the South West's travel links more resilient and offer alternatives to ensure that large parts of the region are not left cut off because of adverse weather. The aim of Monday's meeting was to formulate a united response to Network Rail's remit for its West of Exeter Route Resilience Study, currently being carried out by over a dozen national and regional organisations. The study group will steer the strategic review on the viability of three long-term options – retaining the coastal route at Dawlish, building a second line as an alternative to the Dawlish line and re-routing the main line completely, abandoning the coastal line. At the Destination Okehampton meeting, it was decided that Okehampton Town Council would lead the way on commissioning an independent report carried out by a professional rail consultant to prove the benefits of having the line reinstated. The town council will provide a contribution to fund the report and other councils in the region will be approached for their financial support to get the process started. Any hired consultant would then carry out the majority of fundraising for the report themselves. The decision is expected to be ratified by the council in the next two weeks. Colin Coleman, Sampford Courtenay parish councillor and a framework partner of Network Rail, pointed out that the Okehampton line had all the necessary parliamentary powers in place to reopen the line, and it would be the easiest and quickest alternative line to get running. He also stressed the importance of an independent professional report. He said: 'Network Rail hold all the cards. If their mind is prejudged on the line staying closed, you are not going to change their mind unless you have a report from an authoritative independent consultant. 'A number of industries would have a vested interest in this and might be available for funds, but there is a legitimate case for Devon County Council, and borough and parish councils to contribute to paying for such a report.' County councillor for Okehampton Rural Division Kevin Ball is fully behind the reinstatement of the line. He said: 'This issue is critical, and could bring huge economic regeneration along the potential line. You only have to look back, historically the building of a rail line is synonymous with economic regeneration and growth. When you hear haulage companies are struggling to use the road network with rising fuel costs and other issues, it gives them a new option. 'We must remember the issue of resilience is not just about the storms in February. The line can be blocked on any number of occasions in the year. This would offer resilience as a complementary line, not in competition to the southern line. 'I understand that those living in South Devon get defensive, but with continual communication with them, and if we can get key people onside and show we do not want to be in competition but as a complementary line, that will help our cause.' • What do you think of the potential return of the railway to Okehampton? Share your thoughts with us at times [email protected]">[email protected]