I WOULD like to offer the following comments on the proposed major supermarket outside Okehampton town centre.

My credentials are: 45 years a construction industry professional, born in Devon, lived in Crediton 20 years, Okehampton nine years to date.

There is no compelling reason for a fourth major supermarket in Okehampton. The town is presently well-served with a good spread of varying type of supermarket, and the competition nationally between them is already healthily keen, so there is no need to introduce a further large store, especially out of the town centre.

Tesco moved into Crediton about 12 years ago with a Tesco Express mini-store, soon followed by a major out-of-town supermarket, then after a couple of years the last independent town centre supermarket shut down. Now Crediton has a serious problem with sustainable shopping in the town centre. Thanks, councillors !

There is only so much disposable income in any retail catchment area. Large supermarkets might feasibly slightly increase the numbers visiting Okehampton rather than, say, Tavistock  Crediton or Barnstaple, but the large percentage of that disposable income they extract from the local economy sucks the lifeblood out of local small businesses.

The proposed development site is not designated for retail use. The planners must at least recognise their own long-term development planning policy and refuse on this ground alone.

The proposed development site, if allowed, will preclude the northern bypass option for the relief of traffic congestion in Okehampton, and restrict any infrastructure improvement in this regard forever.  The only way Tesco should be allowed to build must be on the basis of complete funding of the £23-million northern bypass.

The planners have confirmed in policy statements that the retail area for Okehampton is defined as Fore Street, including the Arcade), Market Street and Red Lion Yard. Other retail development is 'non-preferred'. Any diminution of this principle sets a dangerous precedent and damages all local business prospects.

I assume there is a 'sweetener' offered by the developer to persuade approval? This needs clear understanding and must not be hidden from public evaluation. It seems to me that Crediton benefited from the Tesco development only to the extent of a roundabout and small spur road. Hardly a serious contribution to the community!

Retail shopping is changing fast. With the advent and rapid development of on-line shopping, anyone who is a vehement enthusiast of large supermarket shopping can already buy their goods and have free delivery to their fridge, from Asda, Tesco or Sainsbury, so why build an un-necessary additional store here?

The carrot of increased jobs is not a real one. Many of them will be part-time and unsuitable for bread-winners, many will also be people brought in by Tesco so won't be truly local jobs.

Okehampton must keep its options open in the hope and expectation that the northern bypass should, and will be, built —  eventually. Better sooner than never!

Robert Rush

Mill Road

Okehampton