CONGRATULATIONS to all concerned with raising the profile of Tavistock, however, at the risk of being shot down in flames and fed to the dogs may I make a few observations.
When visitors come to Tavistock they want to see a thriving market town with a good selection of shops that sets it apart from the standardised shopping malls that frequent other towns - and in the main that is exactly what they get. What they don't want to see is what is all to common in other places, innumerable charity shops, estate agents, pound shops, tattoo parlours, buskers and people on every corner holding charity tins.
Please do not get me wrong, charity shops and collectors are all very worthy in their own right as I am sure are all the others, but there must be a limit to how many a town can sustain it seems that there is no day that one can walk down the street without someone collecting for something.
Tavistock has some really lovely shops, cafés and restaurants as well as a fantastic market. If the current profile of the town is to be maintained or raised then it should be encouraging even more upmarket businesses to come and set up shop instead of letting empty premises be taken over by yet another charity shop.
Paul Mercer
Peter Tavy