I WILL admit that I am an enthusiastic supporter of the initiative by Devon County Council to establish a recycling facility on the Exeter Road Business Park as it enables one to purchase unwanted articles as well as dispose of waste that would otherwise be left to ?litter? the countryside.
The couple who oversee the control obviously have strictures and it is very unfortunate that users bringing quantities of rubble and metal in excess of the norm resort to verbal abuse and, as I saw on the last visit, a threat of violence if the ?tipper? was refused permission.
The result of the altercation was to make the operative extremely despondent and to whose benefit ? certainly not Okehampton.
The service that is offered brings people from far afield. Some two months ago there were six exercise bikes and I mentioned that fact to Justin Leigh on Radio Devon and that afternoon no fewer than 21 people came to the centre to buy one.
Obviously 15 were disappointed but those were no doubt impressed by the way that often interesting items are set out in the ?barn?.
A visit is an interesting experience where you can possibly get a bargain and offload trash in the numerous ?skips? available.
Do not, though, choose to insult the hard-working and conscientious people involved in the management of the centre if they have to interpret guidelines imposed on them that you do not like.
Derek Godfrey-Brown
Larkbeare
Okehampton