ECONOMIC benefits to Okehampton from tourist coaches outweighed concerns about the suitability of a town centre site for coach and bus parking when discussed at a recent meeting of West Devon Borough Council's planning committee.
Planners have given permission for an ancillary shoppers' car park at the rear of Peacocks in Fore Street to be used for buses, coaches and cars for an initial period of six months.
Coaches will use the site for day-time parking. Buses operating on scheduled services between Okehampton, Barnstaple and Plymouth will park overnight and the area will also be used for a small number of vehicles belonging to bus drivers.
The application by Okehampton OK! Ltd was not supported by Devon Highways which said it would result in an undesirable conflict of movements in the vicinity of the junction with School Way.
There was also concern that the shape of the site did not lend itself to manoeuvres by large vehicles and incorrect parking would lead to reversing of vehicles into School Way.
Two letters of objection from local residents reiterated those comments and it was felt the proposal would cause problems in an already congested area of town where three supermarkets were situated.
Committee members were told that the purpose of the proposed parking facility was to encourage tourist coaches as far as possible to visit Okehampton for the benefit of the local economy.
At the same time, the site would provide a convenient overnight parking area for scheduled service buses and thereby encourage the retention of this important public transport service for Okehampton and surrounding residents.
Planning officers said Okehampton OK! Ltd had indicated that these two specific parking activities were compatible at the site.
It was decided that a trial period of six months be permitted in order to see if any problems arose, regarding highway safety or neighbour disturbance, particularly in the early mornings, of buses leaving the site.
'With the regard to highway safety, this is clearly an important consideration given the limitations of the site and its access, the increasing level of vehicles using School Way and the objections of the Highways Authority,' said planning officer Chris Watson. 'However, weighed against this must be the economic benefits to be gained from providing a conveniently located town centre coach and bus parking facility.'
Okehampton OK! Ltd and the chamber of trade have been campaigning for a new coach parking area since the construction of Waitrose on the site of the old car and coach park last year.
They claim that thousands of pounds a week have been lost to the local economy because coaches are bypassing Okehampton.
Derek Godfrey-Brown from Okehampton OK! Ltd said he was very pleased that the council had approved the application.
'We will now be able to provide a much-needed facility for the benefit of trade here in Okehampton and I hope that the current foot and mouth situation, which is inhibiting tourists from travelling to the area, will soon be overcome,' he said.