I WROTE in early December about access by foot to the new Tesco store and sent a copy of my letter to Terry Leahy, Chairman of Tesco.
His PA acknowledged my letter, but I have heard nothing since. However since then, Tesco have improved foot access from the station end, but have done it in such a half-hearted way that the access now brings pedestrians out half way along the car-park; the journey could be shortened by another 200 m. or so.
I understand that Tesco did arrange a meeting with at least one of our local, and apparently toothless, councillors.
At the entrance to the store, TESCO write that the store has a carbon footprint 30 per cent better than other stores. That is not actually the issue. They should compare the carbon footprint of those shopping at the store with that of the same group of people before the store opened, taking into account the carbon footprint of the construction of the store, increased traffic etc.
That is a difficult and expensive calculation. It is almost certainly beyond the comprehension either of the MDDC planners or the Crediton district councillors, who allowed the store to go ahead.
It goes far beyond the issue of traffic generated air pollution in Exeter Road and the High Street.
We have learnt that the outcome of the Copenhagen conference does not go anything like far enough to reduce the risk of the climate change, which is on the way, if there are no major changes in the world economies.
Tesco say "every little helps", yet this morning and last Saturday morning, with bright sunshine, all the internal electrical lights were on in the new store; inevitable because there are no skylights to be seen in the ceiling of the store.
Tesco could have done more than a little more.
John Boyle
Fordton Cottage
Fordton
Crediton