A Farmers’ Market for Okehampton: Have your say

Introduction

·       Okehampton Regeneration Board was formed in 2023 to shape and guide proposals to advance the future prosperity of the town, including improving footfall in the town centre.

·       Representatives on the Board include Okehampton Town Council, Okehampton Hamlets PC, West Devon BIP, Okehampton United Charities, Museum of Dartmoor Life, Okehampton College, West Devon Borough Council and Devon County Council.

·       The Board is supporting and delivering a number of initiatives through its Regeneration Strategy including the creation of the Okehampton BID, West Devon Employment Fair, Visit Okehampton and the promotion of active travel.

·       The creation of a farmers’ market is a priority project in the Regeneration Strategy and a small working group has met to consider the options.

·       This stakeholder consultation is being held to gauge views and decide how best to deliver a farmers’ market that will contribute to the regeneration of Okehampton town centre.

·       A Farmers’ Market in the centre of Okehampton, selling produce from local farmers and growers: either food or other non-food farm produce.

We would like your views on this. Would you support a market? What would you like to see included? Should the market sell hot food and drinks?

We would like to hear from local farmers and growers, market traders, town-centre businesses and potential customers.

The aim is to:

·       support local food producers

·       help to increase footfall in Okehampton town centre

·       encourage sustainable food purchasing and healthy eating

·       create a buzz – a ripple effect for other businesses

·       increase events and activities in the town

·       maintain an independent economic offer for Okehampton

Initial thoughts are to hold pilot markets in the Summer 2026 with the aim of developing a monthly Saturday market. We would like your views on this.

Potentially in the High Street – as an expansion of the market in Red Lion Yard.

We would like your views on this.

The market will primarily be suitable for local farmers and growers but with benefits for other businesses in the town centre, including those who wish to have a stall at the market or new start and hobby businesses that want to trial their offer.

We would like to hear from anyone who is interested helping to organise the market.

There is the potential to use a small Devon County Council ‘Quick Win’ grant to help get the market off the ground.