AS CUSTODIANS of South Devon's tourist future, we all have some difficult decisions to make.

The latest of them concerns the area around Youngs Park at Goodrington, where the proprietor of the park cafe wants to be licensed to show films and play music.

Some local residents are angry, and one of them says he has no wish to look out over a 'mini-Glastonbury'.

This latest application may fit somewhat into the same category as those which currently propose a play park on Paignton Green and a fish restaurant on Babbacombe Downs.

They will say they all represent progress, and they are each proposed by people who genuinely believe they will improve what we have on offer for visitors and locals alike.

Yet all three proposals have attracted vociferous campaigns of local opposition, just as the seafront balloon did before them.

We are at a crossroads as far as tourism is concerned, and the correct decisions taken now will pave the way for a future in which we continue to compete with the nation's other resorts. The competition is cut-throat, and if we are to progress, we may need to take some decisions that are not popular in the short term.

Seen from the perspective of a potential holiday visitor, a resort with a balloon, a panoramic view from a seafood restaurant, a splendid seafront playpark and a cafe showing movies in the park would undoubtedly sound very attractive.

As residents a very considerable number of us see it very differently.

But the time is rapidly approaching when tough choices will have to be made, about whether we move forward and compete, or pull up the drawbridge and protect what we have.

The latter choice may indeed be the will of many local people, but it comes at a price.

Holidaymakers will come and see us for the quality of our unspoiled countryside and our fine uninterrupted views, but will they come in the numbers we need to sustain our seasonal economy?