WHO do we have to thank for having the Lidl warehouse store imposed upon us in Okehampton, on the best piece of riverside land in the centre of town?
Who decided not to complete the planning brief to replace the coach parking lot in the Market Street supermarket development?
Who decided that the planned enhancements for the park and river walk where the East and West Ockment rivers join could not be part of the overall development scheme?
Who do we have to thank for once again dealing us a less than best outcome for the town of Okehampton and for wasting the promise of an attractive riverside town centre?
Whilst we are told that there are funds available for the enhancement of our town, who do we have to thank for this most detrimental development yet to be inflicted on our centre of town environment?
Whoever you are, don't you see that this store, on this site, is a total dis-enhancement to our town? Not only are you cramming the centre of this town, you are setting up a further traffic congestion problem for the future, as the 880 new houses are built according to the local plans.
If this Lidl store had to come to Okehampton, it should have been sited east of the centre, nearer to Crediton Road. An ideal placing for proximity to the new housing developments.
The centre of Okehampton cannot stand, and does not need, three large stores at its centre; our current road system will not be able to handle it.
We are told that there is no traffic problem in Okehampton and that we have to be guided by the Highway experts. Can we afford to await the outcome in order to tell the 'experts' that they were wrong. Where is the planning in all of this?
One thing is certain, when this store is built all of you who have had a part in allowing this to happen on this valuable riverside site will not be able to look at it and hold your heads up in this town.
Why don't the developers, planners or council have any vision?
It bears some thought doesn't it?
Chris D A Watson
Ebsford
Quarry Lane
Bridestowe