SIR — Small businesses of West Somerset last week were dealt a devastating blow by measures designed to boost the spending power of the West Somerset District Council. Following the vote by the ruling Conservative majority to sell Vulcan Road car park for retail development, the council can now look forward to many more millions of pounds to spend on new buildings and their staffing priorities. But the cost to the small business economy of West Somerset will be severe. The large scale supermarket development bulldozed through by the ruling councillors will massively draw business away from the small shops of Minehead and West Somerset. Consequently, tourism too will be affected. It is the unique character of the small shops of West Somerset that draws tourists and promotes growth in the private economy, not the availability of huge supermarkets or new local authority buildings. In personal terms too, it has been costly for the ordinary people of West Somerset. Thousands have gathered together and marched to the doors of the council. They have written emails, sent letters, spent their own money and forced themselves to stand up and speak at public and council meetings to make their points. Against them has been arrayed the power, might and certainty of the local council with its large public relations expenditure, multiple flawed surveys, secrecy which was only overcome by appeals to the Freedom of Information Act and abusive advertorials. The main issue, as this costly and painful exercise draws to an end, is increasingly clear. It is about whether the West Somerset economy is best served through focussing on small business growth or by permitting the growth of public bureacratic institutions. My vote goes in favour of the ordinary people and small businesses of West Somerset. It is a vote for a greater West Somerset not a greater West Somerset Council. The leader of the council publicly rejected calls for immediate local elections at the recent public meeting. It is a shame that we have to wait for two years before we can finally demonstrate to the ruling Conservative councillors that it is the ordinary people and small businesses of West Somerset that really count. Rob Watson, Paganel Road, Minehead.
