I AM very dismayed to learn that yet another retail shop in Crediton High Street is to be turned into an office. Over the last few years there has been I believe at least six prominent properties in the high street that have been changed from retail to offices. Are we to turn our once thriving high street, where my mother used to be able to buy anything she needed, into a business street where you can rent or buy property, sue your neighbours, divorce your spouse and we even have accountants to check if you can afford any of the above? While I understand the value of the aforementioned companies I don't believe our high street can be regenerated and increased footfall achieved if we continue to allow prime retail space to be lost when there are vacant premises in Market Street which are already listed as office space. Many of the traders have commented in a downturn of footfall in our high street and I don't believe the constant loss of retail space is going to help. I am sure there are people who will say an empty property is just as damaging but I remember a previous newsagents staying closed for years before being changed to office space. I believe there should be a time scale of more than a few weeks for people to look at the impact this could have on surrounding businesses and consultation with the public. Crediton High Street should stay retail not office business. Name and address supplied