I HAVE observed with much interest and a degree of middle-aged cynicism, all the recent debate in the Courier concerning the current and future trading potential of Crediton as a fine old Devonshire Market Town, especially "post-Tesco".
We now have some new and interesting shops to visit as well as the "Old Favourites" who have been established there for years. (In particular, I am a cheese lover, if you see what I mean!)
We actually have some very fine shops in the town. It's just a pity that those of us who live in the outlying villages can't get to them if we are in a hurry.
It has long been my belief that Mid Devon District Council has been barking up entirely the wrong tree by imposing its charges for parking in the town's car parks and by reducing the on-street parking through the implementation of all these restrictive Loading Bays (the delivery trucks seem always to park in the middle of the road, anyway!), never mind the loss of the Market Streeet car park, which I will not go into now!
Surely, we really ought to be encouraging and welcoming people to visit the town and to spend time and money enjoying the shops, goods and services that our local traders are keen to offer and in which they have invested a great deal.
They are brave souls, these shop-keepers, and they really deserve all the support that we can give them...provided that we are allowed to drive to town and to find a parking space without paying a fortune or risking a hefty fine.
By happy chance, I was (today) visiting the Bristol suburb of Nailsea...a town not much bigger than Crediton.
Imagine my surprise and delight when I found that their main, central car park (probably three times as big as St Saviours) was absolutely FREE! And you could stay there for three hours before an official appears to turf you out. Wonderful!
The whole atmosphere of the shopping area was so much more active, positive, relaxed and cheerful, despite the fact that it was raining, cold and windy!
Everyone seemed to have time to browse, to chat, to have a coffee and not worry about rushing back to the car before it "got a ticket". How refreshing and welcoming!
Indeed, I was so taken aback by this example of "Corporation Largesse" that I took a photo of the the grand, welcoming sign at the entrance to the car park and I even took time to telephone my wife to tell her of my "find"! (she knows only too well, how "Grumpy" I can become on the subject of parking charges).
So, come on, Crediton: If you really want our local traders to succeed in these difficult times, have a re-think about the ghastly parking situation in the town and actually DO SOMETHING to welcome people back to spend their money there and to enjoy the town.
John W Smith
Rockfield
Coldridge
EX17 6AX