Dear Editor,

When Cornwall Council recently decided to reintroduce the use of glyphosate to control weeds on roads and kerbs, over 200 healthcare workers, including over 70 doctors, added their names to a letter sent to the Lib Dem leader of the Council, Cllr Leigh Frost.

The letter stated: "As advocates for the health and well-being of our residents, we urge you to reconsider this decision considering growing scientific evidence highlighting the health risks associated with glyphosate and the adjuvants combined with it. Studies have shown an association between glyphosate exposure and various health issues, including but not limited to carcinogenicity, liver disease, birth defects and neurological effects.

"We are especially concerned as the planned application of weedkiller is on the urban highway network, including close to schools and healthcare settings. When applied to plants on hard surfaces there will inevitably be run-off into drains, rivers and the sea, bypassing any breakdown by soil micro-organisms and risking contaminating bathing waters."

Cornwall Council has now paused the resumption of glyphosate spraying following public protests, with councillors voting 61 to 7 against the proposal and Cllr Leigh Frost admitting his cabinet had "absolutely got this wrong". The decision will be put to a public consultation.

I wonder if Minehead Town Council are following this with interest? The decision to reinstate a programme of glyphosate spraying around Minehead has met with comparatively little resistance from the public so far. And let's face it, Minehead Medical Centre is permanently under siege so it's no surprise there's been no comment from local doctors, but Cornwall Council's suspension of glyphosate spraying casts Minehead Council's decision to proceed without any public consultation in a very poor light.

Marion Jay

Wootton Courtenay

Dear Editor,

The Free Press published a report that the cash strapped and immensely in debt Somerset Council has spent £272,824 on a consultancy agency to find out how busy each of its car parks are. A complete oxymoron; spending money to save money, Perhaps they should get another consultant agency to explain to them how that doesn't work.

May I put forward a suggestion? All these car parks have ticket machines that keep the information of tickets issued, those who have not paid are issued a parking ticket, that is also recorded - add the two together and hey presto, that's the amount of people using the car park. I'm sure someone at County Hall could have done the maths and saved the equivalent of the whole council tax bill of a Somerset village.

Hunting:

I have never read a letter in the Free Press with so many contradictions as one published from Will Snick defending the Quantock Staghounds hunt.

I quote the following from his letter ‘they only hunt with two hounds at one time’ — I must say most people who have seen a hunt have seen a pack of dogs.

‘Hounds are trained not to touch a deer’ — well with the dogs ahead of the hunters it’s hard to imagine these dogs stop and look at them, after all packs of hunting dogs are fed at their kennels with whole carcasses of dead livestock.

‘If it wasn’t for the quantock Staghounds the deer would be shot’ — so is that an admission that the Staghounds do participate in bringing down these deer?

Even more bizarre was that residents of Halfords,Williston and Bicknoller must be aware of shots that could kill them is that's possibly from a musket from the year 1640.

If this is the best reasons that the pro hunting group can warrant hunting with dogs or drag hunting, shows these practices are a thing of the past.

Andrew Brown

Minehead

Dear Editor,

IT is becoming increasingly difficult to negotiate the roads in and around our village due to careless or inconsiderate vehicle drivers.

As a village situated in a valley with one route through, which is obviously very narrow and long, pedestrians, dog walkers, and cyclists sometimes have a hard time getting out of the way of oncoming traffic.

Agricultural vehicles are enormous these days and most are very considerate when it comes to those on foot or horseback.

Nevertheless, the current speed limit of 30 does not allow for easy progress for many of us, especially the elderly and infirm.

Mount Lane, for example, is narrow and steep with hairpin bends at the lower end and some larger vehicles have had to reverse, finding it impossible to negotiate.

There is a weight restriction there, but no warning of the tight bends.

A winding village street also has many blind bends.

Many locals feel a lower speed limit such as that at Blue Anchor might be the answer.

We have a lovely village shop here and the delivery vans are used to negotiating the access available.

Also, most of the supermarket deliveries people use are pretty conversant with the restrictions, but have to be advised against using Mount Lane as a shortcut.

There are also the times of year when long, tree length transporters use the village street, and they usually come in pairs.

Maybe our MP Rachel Gilmour could put in a word for a reduced speed limit of 20.

It would relieve a great deal of stress.

Mrs J Hand

Roadwater

Dear Editor,

In 2026 St John Ambulance celebrates the 40th anniversary of its National Cadet of the Year competition, recognising four decades of young people who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to learning lifesaving skills and serving their communities.

That journey often begins through St John Ambulance’s Badgers and Cadets programmes, where young people from the age of five learn first aid, build resilience and develop a practical understanding of helping others.

Readers interested in youth opportunities with St John Ambulance - whether that is for their children or as a potential Youth Leader or Helper - can find out more at www.sja.org.uk/get-involved/young-people

Yours faithfully,

Kevin Munday

Chief Commissioner, St John Ambulance