SIR — Although I am surprised and pleased that letters are still appearing in our local paper three or four weeks after my letter questioning the, in my opinion, inappropriate percentage of West Somerset District Council budget being spent in Minehead, I would not normally want to come back to answer criticism.

However, Bryan Leaker's letter (July 19) cannot go without reply.

Not that I particularly know Ron Frost or Debbie Rundle, it does appear that we share a degree of mother's love for West Somerset and see it for its natural beauty and relaxed lifestyle more than a place to exploit and make a lot of money from before we move on.

OK, there is not a lot for kids to do here. There never has been. We only have thousands of acres of moor, wood and coast.

Most kids with a bit of get up and go do just that. But they always want to return and bring up their kinds in our safe, secure and beautiful countryside.

I am sorry Mr Leaker, but when Butlins first came to Minehead they buttered up the locals by saying that they would give them a social club in the winter, which was good and the local thought Billy Butlin was OK, but that facility went with Billy.

Since then, under any test, Butlins has, in my opinion, become unsustainable.

The majority of visitors are not seen more than a quarter of a mile from the camp site. They travel from the West Midlands in the main, 250 miles and back, to stay somewhere that might as well be, and probably is not as good as, Blackpool.

I feel sorry for some of the holidaymakers who come to Butlins looking for a countryside experience because I do not think they get good value and good service for their money, no matter how little that may be.

I have made several good friends who I would not have met were it not that they in their past worked in the camp. It seems though that many workers only do one season and I have been told that wages and conditions are not that good on the camp.

Some go home but many fall in love with the area and want to stay here. Why shouldn't they? But it does put a strain on our housing stock.

I could whinge and moan about Butlins ad nauseam and I probably do, but I don't want to. Don't just take, give some back, and be seen to be doing so, Butlins.

Cllr John Nethercott,

Clitsome Lane,

Roadwater.