ROY PHILLIPS, of St Joseph's Court, Carlton Place, Teignmouth, writes:

Your newspaper's account of Teignmouth Town Council's recent annual meeting makes ill-informed and depressing reading. Ill-informed because, in mu opinion, it was yet another regurgitation of mistaken 'facts' showing that councillors had neither researched the subjects nor been correctly informed.

Depressing because residents were told there was no 'quick fix' solution to the town's parking problems. Add to this the empty platitudes from others serves to confirm that, after more than two years, nothing positive nor constructive has come from this present council other than a working party!

For years there have been, and still are, some 'quick fix' solutions. For example, starting May 5, Teignbridge was supposed to be clearing Bobbetts Garage site in Brunswick Street. This area, when cleared, could provide additional car parking spaces by the end of this month. This can be justifiably paid for out of the monies Teignbridge holds from the Co-op Brook Street development which was specifically earmarked, or ring-fenced, for replacement of lost car parking spaces. Alan Ashby was incorrectly told by Teignmouth's town clerk that this money was 'ring-fenced for parking upgrades'. Longer serving councillors knew this was not true and that the newer district councillor had had two years to read, at Teignbridge, the written proof.

Any 'parking upgrades' should have been paid for out of Teignbridge's maintenance budget.

Then there is the quick and relatively inexpensive marking off of that section of the Upper Den carriageway for coaches only (some eight places). This would bring visitors right into the town. The town council could give each coach driver a meal voucher. The vacated area of Eastcliff car park could then be used for car parking.

Add to this the important issue raised about the what I think are over-zealous traffic wardens – their actions could be curbed until autumn. Then the county council could and should start replacing and remarking the present parallel or in-line parking spaces over to chevron or angled parking where road and streets are sufficiently wide enough for this.

These measures could be undertaken this year but Teignmouth continues to be the 'poor relation' and subjected to a pervading 'manana' attitude. The actions I have outlined could have been and still could be carried out if Teignmouth was to become a Quality Council, like Newton Abbot, Dawlish, Kingsteignton and others did, years ago.