East Devon District Council seems determined to destroy Seaton as a holiday location. I've lived here for 42 years and, for as long as I can remember, there has always been a Bank Holiday street market on The Esplanade.

East Devon District Council seems determined to destroy Seaton as a holiday location. I've lived here for 42 years and, for as long as I can remember, there has always been a Bank Holiday street market on The Esplanade. These markets are part of Seaton and are run by and for charities. They attract hundreds of visitors and bring in much-needed funds to all those who take part.Now EDDC, in its wisdom, has decided all that has to stop. The first casualty is the Royal British Legion - they had to cancel the May Bank Holiday street fair because EDDC now demands that all stallholders must apply for a licence at least three weeks in advance. (Note: Charities were informed of this change on April 21, not by EDDC but by the clerk to Seaton Town Council). A non-returnable payment of �15 must be sent with the application form, together with a colour photograph of the stall, a copy of the Public Liability Insurance certificate of at least �2,000,000 and the names and ages of all those likely to man the stall. No-one under 18 may man a stall, so debarring Scouts, Guides and majorettes, all of whom use the events for some necessary fund-raising.I am aware that these new rules will apply throughout the district, but Seaton Esplanade is the only place in East Devon which regularly holds a street market on Bank Holidays. On behalf of Seaton Phoenix, I applied for a Road Closure Order for an intended street fair to be held on Sunday, July 19, as has been done over the past four years. The Order, under the seal of EDDC, was issued on February 17. Now that event is put in jeopardy because another department of the same council refuses to allow street trading unless the above conditions are met. As far as Seaton Phoenix is concerned, those conditions can be met because we already have to hold that much insurance to run any event in the Town Hall. The town council and others have asked that charity events be exempt from these rules and they have refused.Who will stand up for our town and is there anything else that EDDC can destroy? Mrs B A Dearden-PotterJubilee Lodge The Underfleet Seaton