AN Okehampton businessman has set up a new campaign group to try and get four key objectives achieved to improve Okehampton.

Simon Weekes has created the Okehampton Business Union, a new campaign group aimed to try and petition for four key objectives for the town; a daily rail service connecting Okehampton to Exeter and Plymouth, improved parking for the town centre, a new market building and to make the town more aesthetically pleasing, including the creation of more wildflower banks and verges in town.

Mr Weekes feels these are the most important things needed to improve trade for businesses in Okehampton and is inviting any business people in Okehampton to get involved.

Mr Weekes said: ‘I have already got 50 businesses signed up to this who share these ambitions, and I am canvassing to get more than 100 in total. We have a great community and lots of great businesses but we need to do something to help them out.

‘We want a fully functioning train service seven days a week to bring trade into Okehampton, not just away from it like the weekend services we have now. We want to bring trade into the moor and bring people in to explore Okehampton.

‘We had our market taken away years ago. It ripped the heart out of the town, and it was not something the people of Okehampton wanted to happen. So we want a new market somewhere in the town.

‘Parking is terrible in town. If you want to park in the town centre you have to park at the supermarkets — but people park there, do their shopping in the supermarkets and leave. We need parking that’s easy to get to and where people could get out and walk around the town centre.

‘The group was established on Thursday, March 3 and we just want everyone to come together, advertise Okehampton as a town and a place to visit. We want to work with the Chamber of Trade and other organisations because we want to pull in the same direction.’

Mr Weekes will now petition the relevant bodies regarding these issues.