GOOSE Fair was again a resounding success for all those concerned in light of the events earlier in the year.

I would like to thank a group of people who go unsung not only at this time of year but all year long. These people work outside in all conditions every day and throughout the whole of West Devon. We all use their services and benefit from the work they carry out. Who are these people? They are the men who empty our bins and clean our streets.

I visited Goose Fair on Wednesday evening and was shocked at the amount of rubbish and litter along Plymouth Road and in the town. Yet when I went to work this morning the town was immaculate. I don't know what time they started work, but at 6.30am the town was its usual spotless self as I passed through on my way to work. Without their hard work what would we all do?

I don't know who these chaps are if I passed them in the street and neither would 90 per cent of the rest of West Devon residents. So it is with great gratitude that I say: thank you and keep up the brilliant work.

Simon Pullen

2 Wooodside Cottages

Milton Combe

THERE are complaints annually about Goose Fair — its noise, litter, road closures and one-way system, and the disruption of normal shopping because car parks and several shops are closed. Those and other irritations can be set against the one day per year enjoyment of a reported 50,000 visitors to the funfair and sales pitches.

More serious is the ten-day occupation of the Bedford and Wharf car parks by the fairground and the associated noise from six to 11 o'clock each night.

This arrangement no doubt hugely benefits the finances of the West Devon Borough Council. It controls the car parks, from which in addition it rakes off over £250,000 annually in parking fees and fines. It does, however, inconvenience a large number of shoppers and makes Goose Fair Week the retailers' quietest of the year.

The situation would be vastly improved for visitors, local residents and shopkeepers if the showmen were instead allocated the Riverside car park. It is slightly smaller and so there would be fewer attractions but still plenty for a noisy, colourful and, for the intrepid, apparently dangerous entertainmennt. The only disadvantage, the approaches to the site, has been removed by the provision of street lights in St John's Avenue and Abbey Walk.

The town council should insist upon the change of venue.

G Kirkpatrick

Parkwood Road

Tavistock