IT'S nice to see that Okehampton is so awash with jobs that the planners felt the 180 permanent jobs created with the construction of a new Tesco store are not needed in this town, neither are the jobs provided during construction of the project.

I see the Tesco delivery van in this town every day, obviously fulfilling a local need that both the chamber of commerce and local council fail to recognise,

I also see a large development of housing spreadsing out towards Crediton.  This development does not have any shopping so the residents will obviously add to the congestion in the Market Street/ School Road areas.

It's time that our representatives started representing the needs and wishes of local people not following some narrow agenda of protecting certain interests.

Without a proper superstore I for one will continue to travel to Crediton, Launceston or Exeter to buy groceries and household goods at reasonable prices.

I look at the towns where there are large supermarkets and have yet to see evidence of central decline. Honiton has a Tesco and a large industrial area and is busy whenever I pass through. Crediton has both a Tesco and a Morrisons and buzzes with activity.

Launceston has a large Tesco, a busy town centre and pannier market, by comparison

Okehampton has charity shops. estate agents, cafes and second hand shops. It is a dead zone after mid-day and generally has a 'leave-me-to-die attitude'.

Wake up, get real — we need jobs and services.

Steve Moore

Okehampton

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