Two West Devon Borough councillors are seeking support for a proposal for an inner relief road through Okehampton to relieve congestion in the town centre.

Councillors George Dexter and Jan Goffey have proposed a new through-route to tackle traffic problems in the town centre, especially at the junction between Fore Street and Market Street, and are now asking for support from Okehampton Town Council and West Devon Borough Council. They say the initiative would also improve the local economy with more people likely to visit and shop in the town centre.

The councillors have proposed a route that would run from Waitrose car park and along Oaklands Drive before crossing over a purpose-made bridge to connect with North Street near the nursery. However, they added, they are not “highway engineers” and are open to suggestions for alternative routes.

Cllr Dexter said: “We are not highway engineers. We are now designing a bypass, but we know there is an enormous demand in Okehampton and by using this relief road we will enliven the town centre and reduce congestion. It’s a win-win situation.”

A proposal for an inner relief road was first put forward ten years ago but was rejected on budgetary grounds. But, Cllr Goffey hopes this proposal will be more successful, given the route is shorter and there and there is a greater need for such a road as the town’s population has grown over the last decade.

Currently there is only one route through the town, which gets so heavily congested that some residents, especially on the east side of the town, choose to shop elsewhere such as Crediton or Exeter to avoid sitting in traffic.

At the latest full council meeting last week (September 14), Okehampton Town Council agreed to support the proposal. Now Cllrs Dexter and Goffey hope to gain the borough council’s support in order to strengthen their case to Devon County Council, which is responsible for the county’s roads.