I READ in a recent edition of the Okehampton Times that West Devon Borough Council planners have refused permission for a new Lidl store to be built due to "an impact on the viability of the town centre one mile away".. what an atrocious decision to make!!

I am of the belief that Okehampton people voted in many members of this council in the belief that they wanted to serve us, and that they lived in our area.

The town centre, traffic-wise, is like entering a huge bowl, in that traffic all comes downhill from the north, south, east and west and daily jams the town centre roads.

We have three supermarkets, virtually side-by-side, in the town centre and, daily there is a long jam of waiting traffic in Market Street, School Lane and Upcott Hill.

Trying to get to Lidl is slow and, many times, it is hard to find a parking place there. I have friends who have driven around that car park, found nowhere to stop, and have left, later to receive a fine in the post from the parking company.

If I want to go to Lidl, I now go to Crediton where there is a huge new store with loads of free parking places. A pleasure to shop there.

So, why can't we have a sorely needed new Lidl store a few minutes’ drive away in a quiet open space at the end of Exeter Road ?? It will NOT damage our town centre in any way as the Co-op and Waitrose stores will continue to be welcomed and busy, as they are every day of the week. Also, the Victorian Arcade will still be a super place to visit, as well as Fore Street stores. I really would like to save a 30-mile round road trip to shop at Crediton.

Michael Bennett

Okehampton