IS it me! Did I miss my footing or am I missing the point? The snowfall in Okehampton last Tuesday week may well have caused chaos on the roads, as reported in last week?s Times, but the condition of the Red Lion Yard on the Wednesday represented an even greater threat to people.
This busy thoroughfare could well have staged the World Figure Skating championships.
Failure to clear away snow whilst it?s falling is understandable; but to ignore the dangers of compacted snow on pedestrians a day later and beyond, is downright negligent, and unacceptable.
Whose responsibility is it? The retailers ? presumably they have their won Red Lion Yard Retailers? Association ? the landlords; or town council?
You can?t go 50-50 ? take away two and you are left with one. Phoning a friend in my case is useless, as I don?t have any. Asking the audience (Joe Public) will result in a 33% split, for each.
Who?s a till-roll short of a cash register? Who can?t tell their profit from their liability? Just who is the weakest link? It is time for the community to register their disapproval.
The phrase ?care in the community? comes to mind. I am not thinking about someone who slips on the ice, and suffers a severe head injury. Rather, those who serve and profit from the community, taking responsibility and caring for their most valuable assets ? people.
R E Thorpe
15 Church Meadow
Okehampton