I WAS very interested to read the letter from Andrew Vaccari in your last issue (January 9) regarding the future sustainability and vibrancy of the High Street businesses in Crediton. I have long held a belief that, with the right type of encouragement from the Town Council, Mid Devon District Council, and a re-vitalised, truly representative Chamber of Commerce, our local town has the opportunity to really grow and to shine forth. It is in the first instance, I believe, incumbent upon the local rating authority to levy business rates which actually serve to encourage (rather than cramp) the growth and healthy diversity of what are, essentially, quite small, family-owned businesses in our town. They should also remember that empty shops pay no rates! We should also all remember that the town is now physically growing, spreading hither and yon and well beyond the confines of just the High Street. Perhaps it is time that we not only seek to succour and support the life of the High Street (and essentially so) but to develop a plan for the comprehensive future of the whole of Crediton, both residential and commercial into a cohesive whole, so that everyone feels that they are a part of the same project and the same future (including the High Street)? Of equal importance, the district and town authorities must guarantee to organise the on-street, off-street and loading-bay parking so as to encourage more potential customers to visit the town, to stop, to stay and to enjoy their visit without the pressures of worrying about parking penalties (possibly caused by vague, ambiguous, or invisible signage and very limited, zealously guarded/penalised waiting times). The exception to this is the very generous £1 for five hours parking in St Saviours Way car park. Long may this continue! However, let us all strive to say "Welcome to Crediton; please stay and enjoy yourselves", by whatever means that may be possible! In many of these regards, therefore, I have some sympathy with the points expressed, however opaquely, by your correspondent Mr Vaccari. However, whilst I whole-heartedly agree with him that many of the High Street businesses already do a very great deal for the benefit of their community, I would very much seek to take issue with him over the part played by Tesco and Morrisons, both of which, much larger businesses, actually continue to contribute a huge amount to the charitable, social and commercial life of Crediton and its very large, surrounding catchment area. These two businesses should not and must not be excluded from the reckoning! Without the recent development of these two big retail stores, I believe that Crediton would be, by now, in a very parlous state, with much of its footfall having de-camped to Exeter, Tiverton or Barnstaple. In our own, personal case, it was the arrival of Tesco into the town (with its free parking) which brought us back to Crediton (from Barnstaple) for much of our regular shopping. I am very sorry about this, but it was commercially and financially driven! I know many, many others who have done the same, for the same reason. In conclusion, I encourage any effort, by any party (be it commercial, institutional, political or voluntary or, better still, all of these working together) which seeks to promote the life of this great, historic, market town. However and eventually, we must all work together to guarantee its future and to make this work. This project must include all of the small, family-run businesses, the professionals and the big businesses (especially Tesco and Morrisons). We really would exclude the latter two businesses from our conversations at our ultimate peril. For instance, Tesco offers employment to around 250 local people. Both stores contribute immensely to our community in so many practical and professional ways, as they have already proved to those who take the trouble to look! I must declare an interest as far as Tesco is concerned as I enjoy a (very part-time) role there as their "Front of Store Meeter and Greeter", a role which has given me huge satisfaction ever since I retired from professional life. John W Smith Rockfield Coldridge