SEVERAL years ago when a Mike Parnell was responsible for this area's highways, he emphatically told me that there was not a traffic problem in Okehampton.
So I issued a challenge. Starting at Exeter Road Garage (now Londis) with me in a pony and trap and he in a vehicle, I would get to Waitrose in School Way, collect a predetermined grocery selection and I would beat him back to the starting point. A decent side bet was made on the result.
The challenge was not taken up, now it could be repeated by someone walking the route and getting back in half the time.
What are the county council doing now? The story of Nero fiddling while Rome burned comes to mind. Four weeks ago it took me 45 minutes to get out of the School Way car park to the junction of Market Street.
Farcical but not gridlock of course!
I thought Fred Karno had died but obviously not, he is very much alive and fully functioning running out road system from County Hall.
I will accept that when this current phase of roadworks has been completed there won't be a problem because most traffic will have gone elsewhere.
The residents to the east to Sainsbury's at Alphington and those on the western fringes to Tesco in Launceston or Morrisons in Tavistock.
Traders in Okehampton will, like many others, face a substantial uplift in their business rates dictated by our 'popular' Government but if the tills are empty where will the money come?
Derek Godfrey-Brown
Larkbeare
Okehampton