MORE facilities need to be provided for young people living in Okehampton ? that is one of the key findings of a new report which aims to influence the town?s future development and preserve its distinctive character and environment. The final draft of the Okehampton Town Design Statement, which has been prepared over the last nine months, was presented at a meeting in the town on Friday. Possible provision identified in the report includes youth shelters in areas around the town where young people congregate, such as the skate park and outside St James Church, and a youth centre/café. These places could give young people somewhere safe to meet, and could reduce problems of anti-social behaviour. The report concludes by stressing the importance of including young people in any discussion of what they want in the town. It states: ?There needs to be a vision developed for young people in Okehampton which not only validates their current activities with the need for shelter, but raises their sights and aspirations for a greater stakeholding in the development and activities of the town.? The report identifies the need for a cultural centre in Okehampton ?particularly since the closure of the cinema ? which could incorporate facilities for young people. The centre could provide a focus for culture events in Okehampton, similar to the role played by the Wharf in Tavistock. It was felt the Old Mill site could be the ideal location for such a facility, which as well as incorporating a youth centre could also include a cinema, a café/bar with permanent exhibition space, a theatre and music auditorium and a modern library facility. However, tied to this is the need for better transport infrastructure to allow people from outlying areas to attend large cultural events in town. Devon community folk organisation the Wren Trust has expressed an interest in converting the site into accommodation for their needs. The design statement authors hope joint working may be possible on any redevelopment proposal. The design statement has been produced by a group of people from Okehampton and Okehampton Hamlets following consultation from the public about what they liked and disliked about living in the town. Project leader Nils Westman said the group were trying to overcome the problem of apathy in the town towards the work of the local authorities. He said: ?The point of this project was to try to be pro-active, as a town, as a group, to put something down in writing, that we felt would actually promote good practice in terms of development.? Mr Westman said given the increase in housing planned for the town, the group also wanted to promote awareness of good residential development schemes in other parts of the country, which were better than those in Okehampton at present. The statement recommends that developers should ensure future development is sympathetic and preserves the rural character of the area. The document also highlights the need to balance green space and recreational area provision within the boundary of development sites. The National Playing Field Association?s six acre standard for playing space per 1,000 residents is currently not being met, along with other standards for natural green space. Another issue looked at in the statement was traffic and parking. A new coach park within the town centre area would be a bonus, which could ?dramatically increase? tourist and visitor numbers, the brief states. Mr Westman said industry was not being forgotten in the brief. The business community needed to be ?represented, understood and appreciated? as it acted as a ?magnet for people into the town?. The group hope the design brief will be given more weight by being adopted by West Devon Council as supplementary planning guidance. Copies of the design statement will be available to view at the library, the Ockment Centre and Okehampton Town Council offices. Mr Westman urged people to air their views; positive or negative. ?We want to know what you really think about what we have done,? he said. Comments and feedback on the statement should be provided in written form to: devtrust.ntawton@ virgin.net or by writing to Mr E Ray, North Tawton Development Trust, 12b The Square, North Tawton, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 2EP.
