AFTER reading the remarks made at their meeting concerning the parking difficulties during construction of the new Waitrose store (January 21), I feel moved to comment on the small-mindedness of the town council.

On the one hand they are pleased to sell the land for this development and encourage a prestigious store to open in the town and, hopefully, encourage other 'up-market' businesses to follow suit and breathe life into the town, and on the other before the first JCB digger arrives on site temporary parking difficulties are referred to as 'hell'.

If sufficient parking is reserved for the disabled in Market Street whilst building work is under way disabled people won't have to walk from Mill Lane or Simmons Park.

Why does the town council feel it necessary to increase parking fees now? Would it not have been more timely to wait until the store was open and new parking arrangements in place as Councillor Hutchings suggested?

Of course, shoppers will find it difficult and will complain (loudly and long once the roadworks start) — we all enjoy a good winge from time to time — but it is only temporary and one is hopeful that by the end of the year, everything will be back to normal — except that there will be a new exciting store in which to shop with plenty of parking available.

Judith O'Connor

Springfield

Middlecott

Brandis Corner

UNDOUBTEDLY there will be times of chaos and I am sure, in the short term, whilst the Waitrose store is being built, the traders could be quite badly affected by the upheaval but in the long term I think the benefits to Okehampton will be enormous.

Rather than all these negative predictions of doom and gloom what about some positive thinking and planning.

Is there no space just out of town — perhaps on the industrial estate — that a Park and Ride could be set up with a couple of small buses in constant rotation from there to the town centre?

Increasing the cost of parking during this time also seems bad timing — could not a short-term free parking scheme be thought about, all around the town and some extra places to park be found to ease the situation with perhaps a free map issued showing these hidden spots? Come on, Okehampton, rise to the challenge!

Elizabeth Aylmer

Widgery House

20 Market Street

Hatherleigh