THIS week’s big news is that planning permission has been turned down for a shop next to the A30 at Whiddon Down — but it’s been another week of news in Okehampton. Here are the big stories in this week’s Okehampton Times.

• A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build a shop and cafe targeting tourists beside the A30 at the Whiddon Down junction has been rejected.

• Shebbear College appoints its first female headteacher in its 190-year history.

• Charity Oke PADS has installed its fifth defibrillator in the town outside Costcutter.

• The 2443 (Okehampton) Squadron padre attended his final parade recently before moving on to adventures new.

• A young couple who farm organically near North Tawton have launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise thousands of pounds to help them become ‘greener than the grass’.

• Okehampton MP Mel Stride has joined calls to the Department for Transport to give a firm start date for a regular Exeter to Okehampton rail service.

• Reporter Sarah Pitt talks to Lyndsey Balsdon from Okehampton about fighting back from childhood cancer by climbing mountains for charity.

• Council tax in Devon will rise by 3.99% as part of a budget that will see more money spent on children’s services, adult social care and roads.

• SEVEN pages of local sport including victories for the Chaos Gym, coverage of Okehampton Argyle’s mixed fortunes and the latest from Okehampton Running Club.Pick up your copy of today's Okehampton Times, in stores now.