SIR — I feel it necessary to comment on the recent spate of letters in your paper condemning the replacement of cobbles in Dunster, particularly for the people living many miles away who must be receiving their information via the national press, which recently gave a very false impression of what is happening in Dunster.

The facts are that there is no intention of removing the cobbles from Dunster.

The vast majority of the people of Dunster know the cobbles are unsightly and dangerous for villagers and visitors alike, but they do not want to lose them for all the reasons your correspondents gave.

There is European money and the promise of future maintenance of the cobbles on offer for future generations. In return for this we have to make one compromise.

On ONE side of ONE street, local stone needs to be set in the centre of the replaced cobbles to help disabled people, elderly people and mothers with children in pushchairs negotiate this side of the street, without the risk of injuring themselves.

This seems an acceptable price to pay for something that will help make the village look tidier and still keep its unique charm and character.

When the entire project is finally complete, 90 per cent of the cobbles in the village will have been replaced by cobbles, and there is no money forthcoming or future maintenance on offer to replace 100 per cent of the cobbles.

If this compromise is rejected, the money will go to some other worthy project and Dunster will stay untidy and dangerous with no enthusiasm from local people to change the situation as it deteriorates even more.

Doug Challoner,

Haven Close,

Dunster.