SIR — Here we go again!

Correspondence, this time from a rather disgruntled ex-resident (Your Letters June 3) having a little moan about the state of the town and particularly its flower-beds.

One guesses she unfortunately chose the time to visit when all the colourful spring flowers from the town’s borders and planters have been dug up for the summer spectacular, as yet to appear.

Now an ex-resident of Minehead too, I arrive at Seaward Way thinking “Aha” and not “Ugh”.

Approaching the Seaward Way roundabout. the verges are cut to allow clear vision for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, but enough swathes have been left for the rest of the wild flowers and grasses to be enjoyed, and the roundabout is mown neatly, with no fussy “out-of-keeping” plants to grate as before.

Though not sure how long the flower borders have been bare in the town, the beauty of Blenheim Gardens a few weeks ago, with the kaleidoscope of colourful tulips and tree blossom, was a joy.

Admittedly there were weeds in the borders, and the fleeting thought did occur that one could dash back for the hoe and get the job done within an hour.

But from past experience, visitors can be assured that the next floriferous extravaganza will happen shortly and be brilliant!

One does bear in mind there must be visitors sadly unable to reach and walk with comfort in Minehead’s nearby lanes, woodland and hills if they find municipal blooms momentarily lacking in the town at this time of year.

There is so much to thrill the senses with the froth of cow parsley, green alkanet and red campion along the lanes, to smell the mass of bluebells in the woods and on the cliffs and enjoy the sight of the snowy white blossom of the hawthorn on the hills when flowers in town are in planting “change-over”.

These sights are all part of Minehead’s appeal if one knows where to find them and, of course, is lucky enough to reach them with ease.

The correspondent who sent in the photo of grass growing through the seats on the Promenade has spotted an appalling slip-up by the council, but residents surely see the JCB each spring, scooping the sand away from the steps on the beach and along the prom, making a stalwart effort to get the stuff back to where it belongs after the coastal storms, ready for the Easter holidays.

Poor old cash-strapped town - peeling paintwork in the shelters! Litter! The council responsible for one; the public for the other, no doubt.

Perhaps if the councils spent lots more time and money maintaining what we already have and value here in Minehead instead of wasting it planning to dig up acres of green and pleasant land in and around the area to stick tacky little boxes on it, visitors and residents alike would notice and appreciate the difference such expense would make towards enhancing the town and the consequent correspondence, if they felt the urge to write, could be quite rewarding!

Minehead does try, but maybe could do a little better?

Ros Robinson,

Coleford Water,

Lydeard St Lawrence.