SIR — It was with considerable interest that I read the letters published in the Free Press last week about the design of the marine pontoon seats; letters which, on the one hand, enthusiastically congratulated the students on their designs, and, on the other, were very critical.

We can claim no credit for them, nor accept any blame for them, for we have had nothing to do with them.

In early 1998 we did work hard and enthusiastically on the seafront enhancement scheme. We were invited to do so by Maureen Winnall, the then arts development officer of the district council.

Gordon Young, the commissioned artist, co-ordinated the effort and lead several workshop sessions with the students. Proposals were sought which were practicable, economic and which were thought to be appropriate for Minehead.

The students received a lot of encouragement and praise. They intended that the designs would take the colours and forms from the locality and they would combine with a nostalgia for the traditional seaside holiday and reflect the natural world.

Amongst the designs put forward were ideas based on wave and tidal patterns, natural structures, flotsam and jetsam, seaside rock, postcard stands, and the brief was focussed on sculpture rather than furniture.

Gordon Young and his team took the trouble to make large scale maquettes in carved stone, metal and plaster, of a shell sculpture, of a message in a bottle, and for bollards which took the form of fish, and buckets, spades and sandcastles.

The only evidence we can see of these now are the buckets and spades, but they are not sited as was originally intended.

The row of seats opposite the station do also carry some evidence of a student's design. Zari Evans proposed a feature which marvellously combined traditional elements from the look of the Hobby Horse with the letter font from the West Somerset Railway in a bright modern and "pop" style.

These have not attracted any comment and even though Zari's original designs have undergone considerable change, enough has been retained to give her a degree of satisfaction.

So I expect now, with the publicity, but with so little evidence of the work the students did, that they will be wondering what happened to their plans and I am sure they will be puzzled that they have had the responsibility for the pontoon seats thrust upon them.

Andrew Davey,

Head of Art,

West Somerset Community College.