SIR — On Perusing Your Letters (Free Press August 16) I came across Mr Leaker's offering, eulogising upon the benefits Butlins has bestowed upon Minehead.

To the organisation to which he is accountable, these sums of money, welcome though they undoubtedly are to the worthy recipients, represent but peanuts and can never compensate for the desecration of the area by this blot on the landscape this camp represents.

As for providing jobs, Butlins is one of the lowest wage payers in operation and, far from providing employment exclusively for the young indigenous population, they import people from all parts of the UK as can easily be verified from numerous press reports of crimes perpetrated by employees of Butlins whose home addresses span the country.

Cllr Nethercott has done, and is continuing to do, much for this region and does not deserve vilification from any source, but then Cllr Nethercott is far too modest to boast of his accomplishments from the roof-tops.

We are very surprised, nay amazed, that Mr Leaker has somehow found the time to write to the Free Press when one takes into consideration the tremendous burden he carries looking after all the people of West Somerset, not to mention his illustrious holiday camp.

Ronald Frost,

Chairman,

West Somerset Watchdogs.