TAVISTOCK Action Group says 'dramatic and incisive' responses have been revealed in its recent survey of shoppers in the town.
The group has received well over 200 completed questionnaire forms — and it believes two key issues, traffic congestion and parking, emerge instantly from the responses.
Eddie Carruthers, chairman of TAG, said: 'Never mind whether it's politically correct or not, we can show that almost 80 per cent of shoppers in central Tavistock still choose to get there by car.
'That's the way it is in the real world. If the authorities don't cater for this preference, the shoppers will go elsewhere, businesses will fail and the town centre as we know and love it will die.'
Mr Carruthers said while parking remains a problem, an 'even more emphatic' thumbs down has been given to traffic congestion on the town's approach roads.
'There really are some very strong feelings being expressed,' he said.
He said four out of every five completed forms revealed frustration and annoyance with queues on Plymouth Road.
'No more talk,' said Mr Carruthers. 'We've had the meetings, we've had the excuses and the wait-and-see routine.
'We've waited and now we can see — if nothing is done very soon to ease access to the town centre and re-route through traffic, the shops will face a disastrous summer season.'
Mr Carruthers said the survey was taken 'very seriously' with no spoiled papers and no 'smart Alec' answers.
'We've been very touched by the response and by the clarity of the reaction,' he said.
Secretary of TAG Ian Mathew said he hoped to finish a full analysis of the fact-finding survey by the end of the week — TAG will then meet to work out an action plan.
Mike Parnell, the county council's local services officer, said there was 'a possibility' the county could look into a traffic survey for Tavistock, but funding would need to be found first.
'Tavistock isn't unique in having traffic problems, but if there are particular issues we need to identify what is causing them and what we can do about them,' he said.
Mr Parnell said it is 'a fact of life' that traffic is increasing — he thought people should be 'more pro-active' about where they parked their cars.
'There is only a finite amount of space on the roads — people will drive around in circles looking for somewhere to park. They ought to make better use of the car parks, and that would help ease congestion on the roads,' he said.
l TAG questionnaire forms were put into a raffle, with the prize winning forms being drawn by town councillor Roy Connolly on Monday.
Ellen Stuart won the first prize of a figurine, second prize of a watch went to Marylou Pethers, third prize of a £5 gift voucher went to Mrs Ayling and L Glanville won the fourth prize, a box of chocolates.