I would like to commend your reader for putting her views of our current Minehead Town Council (Letters August 31).

There are no new revelations in the letter but at least there is an increasing awareness of the dire state our council is in.

I was an independent town councillor a number of years back; naively thinking I could impart fresh blood and ideas.

Very quickly I found myself facing a wall of disapproval from the dinosaurs representing both parties who would sit, stony faced, as I put forward my suggestions.

A feasibility study to introduce a mutually beneficial ferry service linking Minehead to Swansea, Barry, Cardiff and Bristol was one suggestion that I felt strongly about. It was met with derision and the accusation that I had a ‘prejudicial interest’.

In fact whenever I opened my mouth I was apparently committing the cardinal sin of exhibiting either a prejudicial or pre-determined interest.

There is no place for party politics in a town council, the elections should not be based upon who supports which party but on what they stand for within the town.

Each potential candidate should publicly state what they believe would be good for the town and what they believe they could do to achieve their aims.

We, the voters, should then decide whether we agree with this candidate and vote accordingly, not simply elect him because he/she supports a certain political party.

Being a town councillor should not be the preserve of the aged who have nothing better to do in their retirement, but rather that of active, working men and women who want to see the town prosper and to create life prospects for the next generation.

I acknowledge we have a high percentage of retired and aged people living here but they too, I’m certain, would rather the town prospered than be dragged into the mire by a bunch of irresponsible councillors who constant refrain is “We don’t want change”.

Name and address supplied