With reference to the recent article in, regarding Pieter Burger s warnings to Honiton Chamber of Commerce about the forthcoming building of Cranbrook, near Exeter: what s all the fuss about?

With reference to the recent article in, regarding Pieter Burger's warnings to Honiton Chamber of Commerce about the forthcoming building of Cranbrook, near Exeter: what's all the fuss about?

The building of Cranbrook hasn't even started yet and we have known about this impending development for some time. His comments about Honiton town centre are sad. At the present time, Honiton looks productive. The Iceland store is very busy and the new Factory Shop is bustling. A couple of empty premises in Lace Walk, and also the High Street, will eventually be filled. The high business rates have been in force for years now.

The damage done to the town centre IF Tesco had been allowed to build nearer the town would have been high compared to two other stores in the Exeter Road area, giving people more choice, and allowing those shoppers who still prefer to use the town centre small shops each week plenty of reason so to do. Mr Burger suggested we have been fighting the wrong 'crocodile' - it remains lurking in the Co-op car park!

He also suggests we can make choices. Many of the local traders and businesses have done just that - to STAY and face the music, and give good service

M Rackett

Tweed Close

Honiton