I have not lived in Seaton for long, in fact it is only a matter of weeks. So I understand to comment on most matters concerning Seaton would be at the least arrogant, and I would not wish to add my opinion when people who have lived here for years would

I have not lived in Seaton for long, in fact it is only a matter of weeks. So I understand to comment on most matters concerning Seaton would be at the least arrogant, and I would not wish to add my opinion when people who have lived here for years would easily have considerably more knowledge to give an opinion that would carry more 'weight'.

Fortunately, the matters I wish to comment on do not require years of knowledge of Seaton - all they require is good old common sense.

The subjects that I wish to refer to are linked and they are the proposal to introduce pay and display parking and the proposed Tesco construction.

Is it not common sense to realise that pay and display will, at the very least, discourage tourists from staying longer than two hours to spend their desperately needed money in the town or even cause them not to stop at all! Or do the council care more about their own coffers than the welfare of Seaton?

The possibility of having a Tesco in the town seems to me to be a ridiculous idea, which completely ignores the historical factual experience that it will inevitably lead to shops closing down in the town centre.

The shops we have in Seaton only just keep their heads above water, a situation that I imagine must have been made worse when the holiday camp closed down. It is blatant stupidity to replace it with a supermarket that the town does not need and can only do it more harm than good.

The only compromise possible is to not have a pay and display scheme and for the council to take the extra cash it receives from Tesco in taxes and plough it directly into the town centre or don't go ahead with the Tesco project at all. Otherwise, it will not regenerate the town but degenerate it.

Steve Williams Seaton (and proud of it)