Students from Okehampton College were recently given a presentation from a representative of the Driving Standards Agency on road safety, which highlighted the dangers of speeding, drink driving and driving under the influence of drugs.
The year 12 students were shown footage of road traffic accidents in order to demonstrate the importance of driving safely.
The demonstration was given at a time when many of the sixth form students had been learning to drive. Students were able to ask any questions and were also given advice on the steps to take when learning to drive.
December 13, 2009
Essential lessons in road safety
December 12, 2009
Mountain marathon proposal
Members of Dartmoor National Park Authority are being asked to host a mountain marathon event on the moor next year.
Organisers have approached the authority to seek permission for the event in October 2010. Similar events have been held in mountainous areas of the UK but the last time Dartmoor hosted one of this nature was over 20 years ago.
The number of people participating would be in the same region as those taking part in Ten Tors —maximum 2,800. The event would be a navigational race on foot, in teams of two, over two days with the ethos on self-reliability.
The event centre was planned to be Okehampton Camp which would act as the control centre.
In a report to DNPA members, officers said it was anticipated around half the competitors would stay at the camp on the evening prior to the event with the remainder in local accommodation or with family or friends. This would potentially bring benefits to local businesses at a quieter time of year.
They added that holding the marathon at the end of October would mean minimal disruption to wildlife and livestock.
They have recommended members support the event in principle, subject to further detailed work being undertaken regarding the planning of routes, liaison with commoners and landowner consents being obtained by the organisers.
Okehampton town council sell painting
Okehampton Town Council is raising money to restore its paintings in the town hall by selling one of its artworks.
At a meeting of the properties committee earlier this week members resolved to sell a painting of the Castle Quadrate in Plymouth’s Barbican.
They felt the money raised could then be used to pay for future restoration of paintings with a more local connection, that were owned by the council.
A valuation of between £300 to £500 was put on the work by Bonhams’ Valuers, although Plymouth City Council had made a verbal offer to the council of £200 to £300.
December 11, 2009
Strategy for Okehampton and Tavistock questioned
A NEWLY formed alliance group in West Devon is urging residents to lobby their borough councillors to vote against a blueprint plan for the next 15 to 20 years, which they fear would result in the ‘overdevelopment of Tavistock and Okehampton’.
The borough’s controversial core strategy was the subject of a parish poll in Tavistock earlier this year — 90% of people who voted said the proposals for the town were unacceptable.
The elements of the local development framework which have been strongly opposed are the building of 750 houses and a link road through the Tavy Valley, but there are also plans for a new hospital, new school and the re-instatement of the rail link to Bere Alston.
Last Saturday members of the new Rural Communities Alliance, including prospective parliamentary Liberal Democrat candidate for West Devon and Torridge Adam Symons, were out in force at Tavistock Pannier Market encouraging electors to join in the campaign.
A specially sculpted giant hand was on show symbolising the ‘helping hand’ the RCA is giving to try and halt the adoption of the core strategy.
The RCA is encouraging electors of the borough to write to their councillors urging them to vote against the blueprint as it stands.
The group wants a development plan that it feels will more accurately reflect the wishes of the electorate. Many letters have already been sent to the leader of the council, Cllr James McInnes, asking that he intervene.
The borough council recently agreed that work on the core strategy was required following the consultation responses, but the view of officers is that the plan is still sound.
Jeremy Davies, who is chair of the RCA, said despite adjustments being made in response to the criticisms, there was no indication that the council’s ‘urban sprawl policy’ would be abandoned.
The RCA is calling for more housing to be dispersed throughout the district.
He said there were also many residents in Okehampton against the core strategy, which focussed on building all the new houses on the east side of the town.
‘Until there is a firm indication from West Devon Borough Council that their revision of the strategy will entail a fundamental change, it can reasonably be assumed that it intends to keep its discredited urban extension plan, at the same time giving inadequate consideration to the well-documented decline of the borough’s rural communities,’ he said.
‘The consultation period is over so there will be no other opportunity for the public to influence this plan, but we can try to influence the councillors, because it will be up to them.’
Mr Symons said: ‘Public feeling is running very high on this issue. Our residents’ surveys show that most people just don’t want this scale of development.
‘West Devon Borough Council obviously has not demonstrated to the public the evidence to support this housing allocation. They need to go back and think again.
‘Many of the rural areas are crying out for more housing, yet the council seems oblivious to this. Building on the proposed green fields will impinge on a World Heritage Site and seriously degrade the adjacent Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, quite apart from causing severe congestion problems in Tavistock.’
The final core strategy will go before the planning inspector next summer.
Leader of the council James McInnes said there had been five consultations where local people had been able to put forward their views and these views had been taken on board, including the parish poll, in which only 12.8% of the population of Tavistock took part.
He said the council had to take into account the overwhelming evidence of housing need and provide a strategy to deal with everything that was needed to live a modern life in West Devon.
‘I understand the concerns about the increase in housing and I share them, but we have to address the needs up to 2026 and provide the best solution.’
He said building housing developments in several different areas of Tavistock would be more likely to change the character of the town than concentrating it in one place.
‘People need to be aware that 36% of the housing is going into the villages, it’s not all going into Tavistock and Okehampton. We have looked at many options but I believe the current option is the best one for the whole of West Devon.’
A final decision on the core strategy is not expected until next March at the earliest.
Okehampton Traffic jams set to ease
The festive shopping season is set to boom in Okehampton following the removal of temporary traffic lights which have sparked major hold-ups during the last eight weeks.
The temporary lights at the Fore Street and Market Street junction, were in place while the existing lights were upgraded.
The £80,000 scheme was funded by developers Bellway and Barratt Homes as part of their planning consent for the Broadpark development near Giblands. The scheme has seen the signals re-configured to maximise traffic flow through the junction.
It is hoped the new lights will improve traffic flow by 15%.
Chairman of Okehampton Chamber of Trade Ian Bailey said he welcomed the end of the lights.
He said: ‘We want to welcome back all those people who have been put off coming into Okehampton since the road works began.
‘I can assure everyone that the businesses in Okehampton are happy the roadworks are completed.
‘Many traders have reported their turnover down by a substantial amount over this period.
‘Now we have the run-up to Christmas and I know the businesses are ready to welcome people over this period, and as always we will have the lights that are the envy of other towns throughout the county.
‘This Edwardian Evening will be extra special to us all, as a chance to remind everyone that Okehampton is a busy, vibrant town with plenty to offer customers who want to shop at a variety of well known nationals and independent shops.’
Devon County Council cabinet member for highways and transportation Cllr Stuart Hughes said work on the traffic lights was successfully completed within a tight nine-week schedule and was programmed to be carried out after the summer peak and before the beginning of December, after consultation with the town council.
He said: ‘The upgrading and co-ordination of the signals at this busy junction should provide a noticeable improvement to traffic flows.’
The junction signals are now linked to the existing, signal-controlled crossing in Fore Street to co-ordinate signal times.
The existing zebra crossing in Market Street has also been improved to become a signal- controlled pedestrian crossing, which has been linked to the same system.
The signals at the junction are controlled by a state of the art Microprocessor Optimised Vehicle Activation system (MOVA), a more efficient form of signal junction control that is able to reduce delays, particularly at peak times.
Devon County councillor for Okehampton Rural, Cllr Christine Marsh, said: ‘I have already had several positive comments, in particular the improved flow of traffic in Market Street.
‘I would like to thank the county council officers who came to discuss the arrangements with the Chamber of Trade and town council which helped keep everyone informed.’
Mayor of Okehampton Cllr David Weekes said: ‘The temporary traffic lights had been detrimental to the businesses in Okehampton, with the increased fuel consumption sitting in the lights and the time factor to get to work.
‘It will be nice to see the back of them and I look forward to some different lights coming up — the Christmas lights, which will draw people back into the town.’
Edwardian Evening takes place today (Thursday).
There will be a traditional hog roast and hot chestnuts for sale, as well as plenty of stalls and entertainment.
December 8, 2009
New Powers for Police to Curb Alcohol-Related Disorder
Signs are going up around Okehampton town centre as police are given additional powers to reduce alcohol related disorder in the centre of the town from December 14.
At the request of Okehampton Town Council and the police, West Devon Borough Council has consulted widely with various organisations in the town including licensees, local businesses and youth services following alcohol related anti-social behaviour.
Crime levels are low in Okehampton, but a third of crimes reported in the town have alcohol as a contributory cause.
On December 14, the Borough Council will introduce a Designated Public Place Order (DPPO) designed to prevent public disturbance by people acting anti-socially through drinking alcohol.
A DPPO does not stop people drinking alcohol in public places. However, it gives additional powers to a police officer or a police community support officer to require people to stop drinking straight away and confiscate their alcohol where appropriate. If after such a request, a person fails to stop drinking, the person is then committing an offence which may lead to a maximum fine of £500 or an arrest. It is already an offence to be drunk and disorderly, and police already have powers to handle under-age drinkers.
Similar orders already exist in Tavistock and Bere Alston, and have been successful in curbing unruly behaviour.
Whilst the order can only be made by West Devon Borough Council, it has been implemented in full partnership with Okehampton Town Council and Devon County Council.
Mayor of Okehampton, Cllr David Weekes, said: “This is a most welcome scheme as hopefully it will be an aid to enable one and all to enjoy a pleasant and peaceful time in the town.”
Cllr Mandy Govier, Chairman of the South Devon and Dartmoor Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership and also a West Devon Borough Councillor, said:” The new order means that police will have stronger powers to stop some of the anti social behaviour in the town by a minority of people. I hope it will make the people of Okehampton feel more secure. “
For further information please contact Louisa Wall, West Devon Community Safety Officer on 01822 813720 or email lwall@westdevon.gov.uk
December 7, 2009
Young Okehampton singers on song thanks to grant
A group of young Okehampton singers will be striking the right notes thanks to a grant donation from West Devon Borough Council.
The Okehampton Youth Chorus is planning a residential weekend for its 18 members, where younger singers can develop their vocal skills, and the older members learn new peer mentoring and education techniques.
The chorus of 8 -14 year olds sing a mix of traditional English and world music, performing at a wide variety of community events. The group are always on the lookout for new talent and the only eligibility requirement is that new members are young and enthusiastic.
Over the past year the choral group have hosted young singers from as far as the Czech Republic and South Africa. The weekend residency project contributes not only to the Council’s Sustainable Community Strategy, it also gives young people the opportunity to experience working with others from different cultures, celebrating local cultural heritage through music.
West Devon Borough Council runs a number of grant schemes including Community Projects, Village Halls. Sports Development, Arts and Economic Development and Regeneration grants, all of which are a great help to rural communities who want to maintain, improve or bring new facilities into their area. For more information on these grant schemes please contact the Council’s Countryside and Community Projects Officer, Rob Sekula on 01822 813701 or email rsekula@westdevon.gov.uk.
December 5, 2009
Events | Okehampton Christingle service
All Saints Okehampton has its annual Christingle service on Sun 6th Dec at 11:00 am. Everyone is given an orange with a candle and some sweets and we make a circle around the church. it is a lovely way to begin the Christmas season. Everyone welcome.
December 3, 2009
Events | Okehampton’s Edwardian Evening
The traditional sights, sounds and smells of Christmas will dominate the centre of Okehampton on Thursday evening when the annual Edwardian Evening takes over the town.
Lights on over 200 Christmas trees, the sound of sleigh bells (albeit recorded!) and the smell of roasting chestnuts will bring the festive spirit to the crowds who will undoubtedly gather both to shop and enjoy the atmosphere.
The town centre will be closed to traffic from 6pm to 9pm, leaving people free to wander without the worry of traffic, and take advantage of the ‘cheer’ offered by many of the shops, which will be staying open until late.
December 2, 2009
Events | Okehampton Police open day
Staff at Okehampton Police Station are throwing the doors open to the community on Thursday 3rd December.
They will be available to meet the public, will give a guided tour of the station (including the cells!), and provide a look at the equipment police use, both personal kit and the ‘tools of the trade’ carried in vehicles.
Neighbourhood Team Leader Sgt Mark Hoar said: “This is an opportunity for our staff to meet the public and chat to them about our day-to day work. It is important that the public have confidence in their local police and by meeting us in this way we can break down any barriers and show people what we do and how we do it.”
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