I DON'T propose to snipe at the narrowing of Fore Street, Okehampton. Plenty of others will be doing that, I am sure.

What I am concerned about is Okehampton once again regaining the reputation it held for so long in pre-bypass days. The worst bottleneck in Devon. To be avoided at all costs.

Anyone who has seen the huge queues of traffic on either side of the town building up over the last few days cannot help but wonder how this will affect business in the town.

Okehampton has now suffered disruption and traffic delays on and off for years. A situation made worse by a large number of huge articulated bulk carrier lorries passing through the town this week. Why?

And let us suppose that the new scheme doesn't work. It would be a hard mistake for the planners to admit to and even harder to put it right. More delays, more traffic lights, more congestion all with the attendant loss of business. Haven't local traders suffered enough with the foot and mouth?

Like it or not, Okehampton will live or die by the car and customers driving into the town. We need to make sure they are made welcome with easy access as well as cheap and convenient parking. If this town is not to die by self-strangulation this should be the main priority. The rest can come later.

Richard Leonard

Menfreya, Thorndon Cross

ONE continues to crawl into the town from the west due to the totally unnecessary 'temporary' additions to the kerbs.

One lane is not satisfactory and if such is claimed to be 'pedestrian-friendly' then the proposers do now know what they are talking about as the crossing of Market Street in either direction becomes an absolute lottery. This is because . . .

a, Cars in West Street are confused and do not signal.

b, This is because they have been held up and so more focused on getting through the lights . . .

If two lanes are required from the easterly direction to service the same three roads then why the seeming difference when we are trying to encourage shoppers not frustrate them.

Remember market towns are supposed to be the focal points of a surrounding population not merely or people living within walking distance of the facilities.

Traders depend on the peoples around in the parishes and this must be taken into account and the whole ethos must not become some private architectural dream.

Derek Godfrey-Brown

Okehampton Hamlets

Councillor