I READ with interest that the "Crediton Courier" is seeking public opinion in the matter of possible parking charges and meters being implemented in Crediton High Street and, also, a move to increase off-street (Market Street and St Saviour's) hourly/daily/yearly charging by as much as 60 per cent.

Please may I "stick my four-penn'orth in", as someone who lives some 11 miles from the town and who is a 75-year-old, slightly arthritic pensioner.  

Whilst my wife and I do as much as we possibly can to maintain a "green" way of life, the prospect of walking from Coldridge to Crediton and back again to do our shopping is something that we really cannot contemplate any longer (if we ever could).

Taking the car is really the only sensible option. We do not have a bus out here, except for once, on a Friday. We would have to drive for four miles to catch a train.

So, as a Conservative voter, I simply cannot offer any support or comfort to any councillor, Conservative or otherwise, who supports the proposed parking charge increase or the installation of on-street meters.

There must be many far more practical and constructive methods of increasing council revenue. You just need to think a bit harder, a bit more "laterally" and, just maybe, "ask the people". 

Combining the absolutely potty idea of installing parking meters in the High Street with a huge increase in off-street parking charges, the ultimate effect will, of course, be to reduce the income of our town's traders to an unsustainable level ... just at a time when the town has, at last, some really good, new shops and restaurants to complement the valued, existing traders. It was all starting to look so good. Please don't ruin it!

My humble word of advice? Don't do it! Think very carefully indeed before you do anything as totally silly as this. I can guarantee that it will come back to haunt you, horribly!

Oh for the days of the late, dear Gilbert; probably the best and fairest Traffic Warden ever to walk a high street, anywhere!

He wouldn't let anyone get away with anything really naughty, but he would treat all sensible, polite drivers like human beings. Peace and serenity reigned in the town! He is sorely missed.

For your information, we have started to visit South Molton on a fairly regular basis.

This market town (of, I imagine, a similar size to Crediton) has some very interesting and thriving shops and cafes, and it now boasts the "Best Pannier Market in the UK" accolade.

Yet there, on any day, you can enjoy a huge, convenient, central car park for as little as 50p for one hour or £1.50 ALL DAY!

This means that we can take our time over our shopping and stop for a leisurely coffee and a sticky bun … or even stay for lunch without being ripped off for parking and without having to "clock watch" all the time. Lesson to be learned there, somewhere?

Please just think about it: it's not Rocket Science.

John W Smith

Coldridge