R PAMPLIN, of Above Town, Dartmouth, writes:

As full-time residents in Dartmouth, we were extremely disappointed to learn about the proposed alterations to the parking arrangements.

There are, after all, many full-time residents who have no parking and rely on their parking permits for convenience throughout the year and maybe moved here on the basis of this arrangement.

For full-time residents to have to park in the park-and-ride would be a considerable inconvenience throughout the year, whereas most holidaymakers, who are only here for a short while, are generally quite happy to put up with these inconveniences during their short holiday stay.

I also think these proposals have not been aired satisfactorily and the consultation period has been far too short.

I think Dartmouth has got to decide whether it is going to be predominantly for visitors and tourists or whether full-time residents are going to be encouraged. If the former, then there is a danger that this town could become a ghost town out of season, which happens to many coastal resorts; or whether the full-time residents, who use the shops, restaurants bars and other facilities in the town throughout the year, are going to be considered and encouraged properly.

There has been recently a ­tendency for full-time residents in coastal towns to be considered more, rather than less, by local authorities in relation to affordable housing and other matters, and Dartmouth needs to make that judgement and decision now.

Indeed, should this be a ­decision for just the councillors, or should the residents have a say regarding these proposals in the form of a vote of some sort?

If these proposals go through there are likely to be others that follow, again favouring visitors, and this could lead to fewer people deciding to live here throughout the year, and indeed some residents might decide to go elsewhere.

The town has to decide where its priorities lie and the ideal of course is a balance between full-time residents and visitors, with the town then being alive and active throughout the year as it seems generally to be at present.

Where do the town’s ­priorities lie?