THE Ockment Centre, the Old Mill site and the Plume of Feathers could be among buildings in Okehampton to go on a register of community assets.

Town councillors discussed the possibility of putting a number of Okehampton buildings on such a register at their policy and resources meeting last Monday.

Part of the Govern-ment's com-munity empowerment agenda, local councils can maintain a list of community assets.

Nominations can be made by parish or town councils, or by groups with a connection with the community.

If the nomination is accepted, the community is given six months to come up with a bid for the asset when it is sold.

The right to bid only applies when an asset's owner decides to sell it.

There is no compulsion on the owner of that asset to sell it.

The scheme does not give first refusal to the community group, unlike the equivalent scheme in Scotland. It is not a community right to buy the asset, just to bid.

The scheme gives communities the chance to save local amenities, like libraries, community centres and pubs.

Cllr Tony Leech will now investigate into putting these properties on such a register, and give his thoughts to the council at a later date.

He said: 'Such a register gives the community a chance to purchase such buildings should they go on the market.

'Whoever sells has to give the community a chance to purchase.'

Cllr Charles Letchford said: 'If properties are put on the register, we would not have any nasty surprises when something would be bought without us knowing first.'

The council will discuss the issue again and make a decision on the community assets register at a future meeting.