TOWN councillors this week debated whether a new supermarket is needed in Okehampton.

West Devon Borough Council planning officer Rebecca Black met town councillors on Monday to discuss the retail study consultation paper, 'Shaping our Towns of Tomorrow'.

The study covers all of West Devon and the immediate outlying area. It looks at how people across the borough use shopping and leisure facilities in Okehampton and Tavistock, and at potential challenges and opportunities the towns will face in coming years. It also highlights what are considered to be the main shopping areas within the two towns.

Miss Black discussed the ongoing consultation stage with businesses in the town and members of the public, which finishes tomorrow (Friday) — 106 people have completed the questionnaire covering Okehampton.

Among the key concerns raised through the consultation so far have been traffic congestion and a desire for a new relief road, better marketing and advertising for the town, and a more varied range of shops.

One of the major topics for discussion on Monday was whether a new supermarket is needed in Okehampton. The study suggests the town is already well served with its three supermarkets.

Cllr Kay Bickley said: 'I have walked around town, talking to business owners, and not everyone is decided on whether another supermarket is good or bad.

'I personally am not a great lover of supermarkets, but I would suggest the whole town is split. As a town council, we are in a difficult position to comment.

'Many businesses would see another supermarket as a threat, while young families would see another supermarket as a place to get cheap food and goods.'

Cllr Maureen McDonald said: 'There is very little mention of our farmers' market, yet the study does mention the Tavistock market. These are vendors that need to be considered when talking about retail.

'As for the supermarket debate, it does feel like the debate on whether Okehampton needs another supermarket or not has been hijacked, to become a Tesco or anti-Tesco debate. It is vitally important to differentiate between the two things, as a lot of people may be for a supermarket that sells very cheap food, or one with higher end goods.'

Traffic congestion was another topic discussed. Cllr Tony Leech said: 'I think the traffic problems are important to Okehampton, and it is well documented we have a congestion problem here.

'It is all well and good saying that a relief road will be built in a few years' time, but we have the problem with traffic now. We need to find some short-term solutions in the next 18 months or so, or it will continue to become a big problem for the town.'

Cllr Bickley was critical of the consultation stage: 'The public consultation day felt very productive. However, to only have 106 questionnaire responses out of an electorate of 7,000 is pretty low.'

Her sentiments were echoed by Cllr Leech: 'There has been too much reliance on the website. There was a petition at the Ockment Centre which had 1,000 signatures, with one lady going door to door, by herself. That method got results.

'Whereas, if you ask people to go the website, they say, "What?" Often, they don't follow it up.'