AN independent survey will be carried out in Okehampton to determine a suitable traffic management plan for the town.

The decision was made at an extraordinary meeting of the town council last week, attended by Paul Anderson, environmental liaison officer for West Devon Borough Council, as well as a number of local residents.

Councillors and residents called for a thoroughly thought out traffic management proposal to be submitted to Devon County Council.

In January the county council shelved plans to install up to 12 parking meters in the town, but stated the plans had not been cancelled.

Former mayor and town councillor Kay Bickley, who has taken a leading role in the town's response to the meter proposals, told the meeting: 'We must be proactive and go to the county council with a plan, rather than waiting for them to come to us. If we do that, we know exactly what they will suggest and we'll be back to square one.'

A number of councillors proposed a thoroughly researched strategic plan, to include an independent survey of traffic management in the town. It was suggested the survey should include data on traffic flow, car park use, on street parking and congestion hotspots.

Cllr Kevin Ball said: 'At the moment, we are not speaking from an informed position, we are just speaking about our personal experiences. Any plan we present to Devon County Council needs to be based on facts and figures.'

Chairman of the town's chamber of trade Ian Bailey agreed: 'Unless we go along with thoroughly researched hard data, we are leaving ourselves wide open to attack. Anything but factual information is just conjecture.'

Residents also called for thought to be given to residential parking schemes, although town councillors warned that such schemes would have to be carefully planned.

Cllr Maureen McDonald said: 'Residential parking schemes will not necessarily solve all of our parking problems. There may be more residents than parking spaces, and we also have to consider the knock-on effect of residential parking schemes for other roads in the town.'

Councillors agreed the idea of residential parking would be considered as part of the independent study, alongside other proposals from residents, including free parking in town council car parks, a park and ride scheme, and a multi-storey addition to the Market Street car park.