I write in response to the extraordinary letter from the anonymous Exmouth bed and breakfast owner published recently.

As someone who has owned a guest house just a stone’s throw from Exmouth seafront for the past seven years, I struggle with the veracity of this report of a deserted seafront on a recent bank holiday morning.

Since I walk my dog along the seafront late morning every day, my recollection is that the beach was packed with visitors over both holidays, so much so, that, on two occasions, I abandoned the beach simply because it was so crowded.

I can, therefore, only conclude that the writer’s photographs must have been selectively taken on the bank holiday morning of the Royal Wedding.

What concrete evidence, I wonder, can the writer provide to support the statement that local councillors wish “to have the town entirely to themselves”?

Not once, in the last seven years, have I had a guest complain about parking charges or traffic wardens. Love them or hate them, they are a necessity and there would be chaos without them.

Certainly, they are not unique to Exmouth and it has to be remembered that this seaside town, like many others, was not designed for the huge influx of traffic it can experience, so some controls are necessary and inevitable.

Furthermore, East Devon District Council sell annual parking permits issued to guest houses, for use by visitors, and, at our establishment, we offer these as a courtesy to enable guests to park for free in a nearby car park if road parking is difficult.

I have received only very positive comments from our clientele about The Strand development. It provides a well-designed, safe and open environment for shoppers and visitors to make full use of the town centre and acts as a focal point and positive attractant for Exmouth.

I am sorry the writer’s B&B is empty, but this has nothing to do with any conspiracy by councillors, parking charges, traffic wardens or the newly-designed Strand Gardens. Guest numbers are significantly down this year, no doubt due to the recession, and spiralling petrol prices.

We are all suffering, but I am quite sure we will get through it and the only words of advice I can give to the anonymous letter writer is “Calm down, dear!”.

John Thorogood

Clinton Guest House,

41 Morton Road, Exmouth.