I THINK Mike Gibson's letter 'Gateway to Hell' raises some interesting points.
The scene he so graphically describes of congestion and chaos at 3.30pm on a Friday, will not in my view be aggravated by traffic calming ramps, as the traffic is already at a standstill at certain times.
What the ramps will do, however, is address the very real problem of pedestrian safety in the vicinity of the post office at all times.
Mr Gibson's idea to open the slip roads from Tors Road to the A 30 is not practical as the cost would be enormous, the railway bridge would need widening, and Station Road would never cope with the increased traffic.
However, there could be a good case to allow military vehicles to use the slip roads and so avoid the town.
The Ministry of Transport might be difficult to persuade!
The future prosperity of St James Street, parking for cars and coaches and the free flow of traffic are dependent on the way the authorities integrate the old mill site, Mill Road car park and access to the college.
Improvements to our fine Victorian arcade, St James Chapel, Paradise Gardens and a footbridge from Mill Road car park will do much to bring shoppers to this side of town.
We should also ask ourselves whether the key riverside site in School Way is the right place to put a further supermarket. Some additional parking combined with a river walk, and a small park and picnic area where the rivers converge, would preserve the amenity value of this unique site.
Finally, we must congratulate the organisers of the cycle events of the past week; they more than justified the small inconvenience to a few motorists.
Well done Okehampton.
David Terry
Klondyke House
Okehampton