SIR — The way to regenerate West Somerset is simple and clear and has been for many years.

The local authority must find and engage in a dialogue with every single small and micro business about their needs, problems and aspirations and facilitate a similar dialogue amongst all these businesses with each other.

Increased communication leads to increased problem solving and to increased economic growth.

Businesses outside West Somerset would hear how exciting it is to live and work here and be attracted to the area to join in. More growth! Simple!

Sadly, this solution runs completely contrary to the culture of West Somerset Council, which operates a traditional hierarchical top down paternalistic system which does nothing to meet the communication needs required for dynamic economic growth in West Somerset.

For example, living in Minehead in retirement, I am now a part-time musician playing soprano sax and working in a number of traditional bands throughout the West County (eg BarnBuskers Ceilidh and Folk Dance Band).

West Somerset Council knows nothing about my micro business problems and aspirations. Nobody from the council has contacted me about my business with the aim of helping to improve my business. They probably have no knowledge of my business.

On the contrary, letters I wrote to the chairman of the committee in charge of the local plan a couple of years back about a better way forward for regeneration received no reply. Verbal representations subsequently were also rejected.

I have no reason to believe that my situation is not typical of the many micro businesses in this area and sadly this lack of engaging businesses like mine in dialogue is the reason regeneration has got nowhere in West Somerset.

For many years I used to submit evidence to West Somerset Council's consultation system but got absolutely no feedback whatsoever, so gave up . . . fed up!

Dialogue is a two-way process involving discussion backwards and forwards until a good result is obtained.

The West Somerset consultative system in nothing like that at all and is yet more evidence of the way the council corporately thinks . . . or doesn't!

Calling a committee together of the great, the good and the favoured, who have few facts and no solutions, as has been done in the past, simply won't work.

Calling it a "forum" simply misuses the word.

Too much money has already been wasted on such non-functional ivory tower committees in past years.

I will start to believe that West Somerset Council is serious about economic regeneration when a representative of it can be found each day in the home kitchens of micro-businesses in West Somerset, poring over their plans, aspirations and challenges, and expanding and sharing knowledge from and about other micro-businesses that may be able to help solve detailed problems.

I don't believe the council will do this and that is why I believe it will continue to fail in its obligation to help the people of West Somerset regenerate our economy.

Rob Watson,

Paganel Road,

Minehead.