SIR — I have followed the recent correspondence about the grass verges around Minehead with interest. For the record, I am on the side of wild-flower brigade, but I must point out that the whole discussion is somewhat futile, if it is in regards to appealing to tourists.

Minehead sold its soul to the devil many years ago, the devil in this case being Butlins. Unfortunately, the presence of Butlins almost inevitably means that the town will only attract the lowest common denominator in terms of tourism, especially considering that Butlins seems increasingly intent on almost entirely catering for "adult weekends".

For much of the year, the average visitor to Minehead seems unlikely to care in the slightest about whether the grass verges are cut or not. As long as they have a clear route to the alcohol aisles of the two main supermarkets and the pubs in The Avenue, they're unlikely to notice whether the grass verges are cut, full of wild flowers, or even resemble the plains of the Serengeti.

You can only pity the poor tourist who finds themselves in Minehead on these (increasingly frequent) occasions. Where they ought to enjoy the gentle lapping of the tide and the sound of seagulls, they are welcomed by drunken shouting and swearing. Where they ought to enjoy the sights of this pretty little town, they are greeted by overweight slobs, names printed on their T-shirts lest they forget them.

It's not pretty, and it does the town no good (unless you are the two supermarkets or the two main pubs in the town, in which case it does your pocket a lot of good).

As the residents of West Somerset, we allow ourselves to be bought by Butlins because they "give" the town a firework display and (in the last couple of years) an airshow. Personally I'd rather see that tent that blots the landscape for miles around pulled down, an end to adult weekends so I can take my children into Minehead at the weekends again, get a swimming pool and a cinema in town -and I'd happily give up the freebies for it.

But, as a realist, I know we are stuck with it. So, let's see West Somerset Council show some imagination for a change (oh, maybe I'm not such a realist after all), and invest in the areas that could potentially bring in the tourists.

Porlock is a fantastic village but it would benefit from attracting a more diverse age group. Watchet is gradually tidying itself up, and with some serious commitment and investment could be wonderful.

You only need to look at places like Southwold in Suffolk, Whitstable in Kent, and Salcombe in Devon to see that coastal towns can be beautiful places to go, successful holiday destinations that will bring visitors back time and again, without becoming tatty booze-break destinations.

We've got countryside, villages and coastline that rival anywhere in the UK - but whilst Butlins rules, we're going to have to look outside Minehead for the answer to our tourism woes.

Julia Winstanley

Lower Hayne

Roadwater