SIR — So 'they' are afoot, looking for banners and signage that may just help businesses to attract customers during intensely difficult trading times.

Week one and they have targeted a local businessman who has created jobs and encouraged local businesses for decades. Week two, a local inn and function suite that has managed to trade through tough times has been forced to remove some advertising all in the name of health and safety/road safety (the shield that all pen pushers hide behind to justify narrow minded ill conceived legislation).

To bring this policy to its fair and just conclusion, we can only assume the companies that very kindly sponsored the displays and upkeep of the roundabout near the rugby club will have all their expenses repaid by the council when their signs are removed. The council could, of course, have its own banner printed pointing out some of its major triumphs over the years.

How about — we built a swimming pool and knocked it down 15 years later? Or we built a tourist information centre on Minehead seafront and made sure no-one could park anywhere near it without paying?

Several lorry loads of taxpayers' money could then be transported to a firm of consultants to tell them where to position the banner - probably for them to conclude it was a toss-up between the middle of the road at Washford Cross or at the junction at the bottom of Friday Street.

However, this money could be saved during this time of austerity by simply asking the taxpayers of West Somerset where they would suggest the banner was positioned. If the relevant councillors followed their electorate's advice I am sure they would be most relieved that another local businessmen had the foresight to produce his own banner signposting the way to Minehead hospital A & E.

Seal Coleman,

Coleman Removals,