OKEHAMPTON Town Council will decide at a special meeting on Monday whether to pledge £60,000 to see a 'flagship project' for the town come to fruition.

The town council is being asked to contribute towards the £3 million sports complex project to increase the chances of a lottery bid being successful.

Deputy chief executive of West Devon Borough Council David Inman told town council members at a meeting this week that if a partnership funding package could be put together between the borough, county and town council he thought the project was a winner.

He explained the best that the town could hope for was 75 per cent lottery funding which meant that 25 per cent to be found through partnership or local funding.

A total £410,000 had been pledged by the borough council, £150,000 by Devon County Council and £10,000 by Okehampton College but he was hoping that could be increased to £20,000. The town council and the local community is being asked to find the remainder.

A previous £4 million lottery bid failed because the project was over ambitious and there was a lack of partnership funding. The project has been scaled down and now consists of a swimming pool, sports hall and fitness centre, the latter to bring in revenue.

Mr Inman said he would be looking for a £60,000 contribution from the council.

A pledge of this kind would say a lot for the importance that the town council attaches to this scheme, he said.

He has also suggested that a local fundraising campaign be set up, giving an opportunity for firms to contribute.