IT would appear that Tavistock is a town in increasing isolation. To the north the A386 is being reduced in speed, making access to the A 30 dual carriageway less obvious. All roads east across Dartmoor have been slowed to the point where the journey is no longer worth it.
Worst of all, our main link south, the A386 into Plymouth is congested at the best of times and a nightmare jam during rush hour. A cynic might suspect powers that be like it that way in order to discourage those with jobs in the city living in our lovely country town.
Meanwhile, year after year while Tavistock grows bigger, more and more traffic is channelled down the one central route. Every vehicle that comes this way has no choice but to drive through the town centre. The Lollypop Man on the bottom of Callington Road regularly causes miles long queues. Now even the Whitchurch option is to be made smaller and slower.
What is going on here? Aren't we just storing up trouble for ourselves? When will we finally grind to a complete halt?
In the 21st century, why aren't we looking at making our roads better, not worse? Where are the demands for a bypass? For a modern road south to Plymouth and north to the A 30?
But it goes further. Up on the M5, as one approaches the South West, there is no mention of Tavistock. Plymouth, yes. Torquay, yes, Okehampton, yes. But no Tavistock. We are invisible. Why no signs to Tavistock on the M5 and A 30 until one reaches Sourton? We are the main town for Dartmoor and certainly a more important centre than Okehampton. So why aren't we more prominent?
I do not believe we are marketing ourselves very well, missing out on a lot of extra trade. Certainly we are not standing up for Tavistock very well when it comes to transport. Slowly but surely this town is letting itself be cut off and strangled.
John Timpson
Mitre Close
Tavistock