A CHARTERED engineer and consultant to council working group Destination Okehampton and the town mayor have both said they feel that the return of the railway to Okehampton is a 'certainty'.

The working group met on Wednesday, November 5 to discuss the latest developments regarding the potential return of the railway to Okehampton, including the recent ministerial visits to the town by the Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin MP, and the Under Secretary of State for Transport Claire Perry MP.

Among those to speak was Colin Coleman, a consultant and chartered engineer who has been involved with Destination Okehampton. He said: 'My opinion is that the decision has already been made in government and I am sure it is a certainty that it favours our "northern line".' All the augur is saying it has been decided.

'Destination Oke-hampton's job now is to show the Government and both the Under Secretary and Secretary of State for Transport that they are making the right decision.'

Okehampton's mayor Cllr Paul Vachon shared a similar view, believing that the decision to bring the railway back through Okehampton and Tavistock has been made for political reasons ahead of next year's general election.

'There seems to have been a sea change in government regarding this issue. Where once ministers were sat on the fence, now they are off it. From what I've seen following visits to Westminster and the visit of Mr McLoughlin, I am convinced that the decision has been made and it's a political one.'

At the meeting, members also discussed the plans to commission an independent report by a professional rail consultant to prove the benefits and costs of having the line reinstated.

An advertisement for a consultant was placed in the September edition of Rail Professional magazine and there were four responses expressing an interest in the project. One of those was from Brian Finch, an expert in facilitating investment opportunities from China.

He said he believed that the rail project had true potential to attract investment from Chinese rail investors and will present potential opportunities to affect investment at a later Destination Okehampton meeting.

The working group also confirmed it had received pledges of financial support for the independent report from Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council, Tavistock Town Council, Hatherleigh Town Council and Mary Tavy Parish Council.

Destination Oke-hampton is scheduled to have another meeting with Claire Perry MP, Under Secretary of State for Transport, on November 26.