I WRITE with regard to the proposed enhancements to Fairplace and the surrounding roads. It is proposed that: ramps are built across George Street, St James Street, Mill Road, Station Road and Castle Road, a zebra crossing near the Post Office and yes, the cycle track still coming down Station Road.

I am told that this is being done in order that pedestrians are at less risk of being injured. Brilliant, it will certainly slow down all the traffic. However, I would like to ask the authorities what is going to happen to all the vehicles that are trying to navigate this minefield?

Picture this: Friday 3.30pm, a line of buses are queued up along Mill Road with scores of school children dodging between them because there is no pavement on the left hand side of the road, just a line of parked cars to push the buses further into the centre of the road.

The Army has finished their exercise on the moor and are now parked in their four ton lorries at the bottom of Station Road, they are in the middle of the road because of the 100 odd cyclists screaming down the cycle track.

The ambulance is trying to get out of Castle Road to attend an accident on the bypass, it's difficult because the Post Van is collecting the mail and the BT workers are trying to get into their yard.

Mrs Smiff has dropped her pension book on the zebra crossing and the TA are waiting in George Street to get on the moor for the weekend. Behind these, spilling out onto Fore Street, are the residents of the area trying to get home, golfers hoping to get a round in before dark, buses trying to get to the station and right at the end the Pet Food Shop's last remaining customer.

The only quiet area is St James Street, nobody goes there any more, the shops are all boarded up, they have no customers, even if they did, they can't get re-supplied. However, it's not a bad day today as SWEB, SWW, British Gas and Cable TV have decided not to dig a hole there and the traffic lights are not in operation.

Okehampton, Gateway to the Moor. More like gateway to Hell.

The point of this letter is to try and make the authorities realise that there is no point in making 'Enhancements' until the traffic flow and parking for the town is sorted out.

I have a suggestion for the authorities. Why not open the slip roads at the top of Tors Road? This I believe would alleviate a lot of the traffic problems in the town. (Don't tell me it can't be done, It can if the town wants it).

Why not build a footpath leading from the school, down the left hand side of Mill Road. Our children would be much safer, rather than being forced into the road by a line of parked cars. I look forward to other people's comments and indeed those of the authorities.

Mike Gibson

Pet Food Shop

Station Road

Okehampton