SIR — The front page of last week’s Free Press filled me momentarily with a great deal of excitement - £500,000 spent on our town. How wonderful.

But it was short-lived as I once again realised that this money was for tourism and not residents.

We are the people who pay council tax, we are the ones who use local services - builders, plumbers, gardeners, carpets etc.

We are the ones who keep the steady flow at the shops and hairdressers and cafés, so why can’t that money be spent on improvements for us?

I understood Hinkley Point funding was for inconvenience caused to residents by the development, so let it be used for that.

Why could it not be used to bring the bands back to Blenheim Gardens, something that was loved by locals and visitors alike?

Toilets could be kept open in the gardens as music lovers and people with small children alike would be in need of facilities.

More sheltered areas could be made on the seafront, offering locals and visitors shade from the sun and shelter from the rain for picnics etc.

Oh, and by the way, if we want tourists to come to the beach we should get rid of the large brown rats that live in the rocks.

Last summer, on three occasions I saw families flee their spot on the rocks, screaming as a large rodent approached them, swearing to never return.

If this money has to be spent on tourism and none of the above should be relevant, maybe we should consider a walkway on the beach to allow disabled access and people with buggies ease of movement.

Other towns can do it, so we should learn from them.

Sally Hall,