A POTENTIAL energy renewable scheme for the benefit of Okehampton residents has been described as 'an exciting opportunity for the community'.

There is currently the opportunity for Okehampton Town Council and Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council to take advantage of a government grant for a feasibility study to explore renewable energy initiatives across Okehampton and its outskirts.

The two councils joined forces to invite tenders from specialist consultants to undertake the study and selected Devon Association for Renewable Energy (DARE) based in North Tawton to carry out the work.

The study will assess the potential renewable energy resource in the area, with a possible focus being hydropower and solar PV panels.

The chosen consultants will talk to landowners and others to see what potential sites might be used for such projects and also work with the community to see if it is interested in forming an energy co-operative to own any renewable installations, using any profit for the benefit of Okehampton and the hamlets.

At the town assembly meeting on Monday, Andrew Shadrake of DARE spoke about the potential of the scheme should it get the go ahead.

He said: 'Being here tonight it has come home to me how much renewable energy would fit in with much of what community groups are doing now. A scheme like this is a way of starting to take control of your energy sources.

'About £3-million goes out of Okehampton each year to the "Big Six" energy providers just on gas and electricity.

'If you include Okehampton Hamlets, that figure goes up to around £6-million. Wouldn't it be nice to take control of our energy and bring some of that money back into Okehampton?'

Town mayor Cllr Paul Vachon said: 'This potential scheme is an exciting opportunity for the community and it will be interesting to see how it pans out.'

The clerks of both councils would like to hear from anyone interested in being involved with the project at a later stage.

You can get in touch with the town clerk Paul Snell on townclerk@okehampton. gov.uk or by calling 01837 53179, or Okehampton Hamlets parish clerk Jane Gillard on mail@okehampton hamlets-pc.gov.uk or by calling 01837 55728.