SIR — Further to Tony Perrett's comments (Your Letters, March 21), Williton Parish Council has written to those residents, including Mr Perrett, whose properties back on to the Memorial Ground and are impacted by the location of the new building, inviting them to meet and discuss their concerns.

Although Mr Perrett's comments are wide ranging, he includes a specific comment that implies Williton Parish Council introduced into the scheme a garden of remembrance just to encourage the support of the Royal British Legion. His comment cannot be further from the truth.

The Royal British Legion has been involved with the project from the outset and when we met in late 2012 we discussed the new building, pedestrian links, disabled parking and a new hard-standing adjacent to the war memorial.

This formed the basis for the questionnaire issued during April 2013. With the public response, we received a comment asking that we create an area for quiet contemplation, in keeping with the memorial aspects of the ground. The parish council discussed and agreed this with the Royal British Legion in January this year and it has been incorporated within the scheme.

Williton Parish Council, and not a few people, has embarked on a programme of improvements to the memorial-recreation ground that will provide an all-year-round sports facility along with improved accessibility. The scheme provides an opportunity to attract a potential investment of around £800,000 into our local community.

We realise that comparison will always be made against the previous community hall project as the pavilion will have a multipurpose area that can be used for sport, leisure and social pursuits. The fundamental difference is that the pavilion is half the size of the proposed community hall with a focus on supporting sports activities and events held on the recreation ground.

The main area within the building meets the basic requirements for funding and, as we have stated in our local parish magazine, as a comparison it will be similar in size to the main area within Crowcombe Community Hall. Interest in using the facility from outside the parish has increased and this is in line with an objective to encourage organisations and individuals to start up new clubs and activities here in Williton.

Williton Parish Council fully appreciates that, as a public project involving the Memorial Ground, not all are supportive of the proposed scheme. The new building location is not optional, due to flood plain constraints, and has impacted on certain properties that border the Memorial Ground.

Our advice to those residents has been to register their objections and concerns to the planning authority when the plans are submitted. A further update on the project will be given at the parish assembly at the West Somerset Council chambers on Monday, April 28.

Cllr Bill Vaughan,

Williton Parish Council.