MR WILLETT'S vision of a marina at Crowndale, Tavistock (Letters, January 31) added to the other prospect of a renewed link between the town and Bere Alston is most heartening to those who want to encourage holiday visitors to the town.

However, a glance at the Ordnance Survey map of the area dampens enthusiasm. Above Lopwell Dam is Denham Bridge and about that a weir at Hatch Mill. Woodland is featured on both sides of the river but the tidal range, likely to increase by global warming, might endanger farm and residential property at other parts unless high flood barriers were built.

Cleaning and dredging the sinuous river bed would probably be the main cost to be met by local government and national tourist planners. And it is doubtful if a useful width and depth of river could be obtained for a Crowndale marina.

But hope springs eternal . . .

G Kirkpatrick

Tavistock

GEOFFREY Willetts is to be commended for his brilliant idea of connecting Tavistock to the sea by removing the blockage that is Lopwell Dam.

However, there are a couple of minor snags that he would need to attend to. The yachts in the proposed marina in the Crowndale area would have a problem getting their tall masts and sails under Denham Bridge and at low tide the flow of water over the tidal ford at Lopwell is often reduced to a mere trickle.

Peter Lansdell

Bere Alston