THE Alexander Centre, as an adult education facility, is highly valued and any alteration to its circumstances that may reduce its use and threaten its future is, I think, to be deprecated.

As a user of the centre and the leader of a widely dispersed group I have objected to the pay and display proposal. Those coming considerable distances might reasonably expect to be able to park as part of the fees we pay for the use of the centre. There is no mention of any provision for unloading equipment which our group needs.

Those who know the centre may be surprised that it could be considered as a public car park; the entrance is narrow and crosses the pavement only feet from a pedestrian crossing and exiting is difficult on to a particularly congested road. It is more akin to a private driveway and suitable for only occasional use.

The pricing structure of £2 all day from 8am till 8pm when the adjacent main car park charges £6.50 all day, will probably mean, bearing in mind the very competitive charge, that this proposed public car park will be full all day. Users of the centre will be displaced to the road outside or more distant car parks.

All this with the aim of 'improving the amenities of the area'. The proposer should be reminded that the centre itself is a very highly prized amenity and deserves to be properly serviced.

Objections to the above must be made by August 16 in writing to: ref IMR/B08471, County Solicitor, Devon County Council, County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter, EX2 4QD or by email http://www.devon.gov.uk/traffic-orders">www.devon.gov.uk/traffic-orders

B Martin

Bere Alston

LET me join in the condemnation of the proposed pay and display car park at the Alexander Centre. This will cause hardship to attendees. The hours of charging are the longest of any town car park.  

The security of the buildings will be breached by leaving the gates open. Nuisance will also be caused to the neighbours as a result.

There is only one entrance, which is inadequate for a commercial public car park, and restricted visibility on leaving makes it dangerous for pedestrians both on the footway and zebra crossing.

I have kept this brief but what next? Pay and display at Tavistock College?

Cllr John Sheldon

Tavistock and West Devon Borough Cllr

THE article in last week's Times on parking at the Alexander Centre, showed that Cllr Sellis had not really thought out the scheme properly for a number of reasons.

In general, extra parking is certainly needed in this area of Plymouth Road, but this scheme does create some potentially serious problems.

1) It is thoughtless to allow 24-hour parking between two residential apartment blocks, with no control over the users, be they good citizens or a selection of the rowdy drunks who regularly use Plymouth Road late in the evenings, particularly at weekends. If there is no control over who uses the facility at night, then for sure the residents of these apartments, mostly elderly, will be disturbed, and maybe a little frightened.

2) There has already been at least one incident of yobboes trying to climb over the wall into the Drakes Meadow parking area, even though the gates of the centre were locked at the time. The residents of Drakes Meadow thought that they had purchased accommodation within a secure gated area, but 24-hour parking could destroy that security. Once on the site, within the gated area those with felonious intent have little more to do to gain access to the main building.

3) If any of the skateboarders, who regularly use the sloping ramps and handrails are injured, who will be liable? And further, if one of them damages a vehicle when they jump off the end of the ramp, will the council accept responsibility for the cost of repairs? Just to display a disclaimer saying that parking is at owner's risk would be a typical council cop-out.

R C Blake, Tavistock