SIR — We are very frequent visitors to the area as we have a static caravan at Blue Anchor. We have holidayed in the area since getting married 15 years ago - my wife had been to Minehead many times before so we know and love Minehead. I must declare an interest as we are armchair members of the West Somerset Railway Association - we rarely miss any special event on the railway and indeed take a trip on almost every visit we make.  Do the local councillors realise what an important revenue earning tourist asset the West Somerset Railway is to Minehead? It carried over 200,000 people last year, very many travelling from Bishops Lydeard and spending time in Minehead. How many meals in Minehead does that account for and how much is spent in local shops? It is not just revenue for the railway, it is a bringer of revenue into the town. Minehead Station is a pleasant Victorian building and is being improved (we have seen great improvements over 15 years) - are the councillors so blind that they cannot see this fine asset? Obviously not - they want to build a modern carbuncle next to a Victorian building and destroy the present parking that visitors to the railway use. I may be an interested party but isn't the railway a jewel in Minehead's crown? Why not polish it, enhance it. No, they want to devalue this fine tourist attraction. In terms of bums on seats, WSR is well up there with other heritage railways and has what the others do not have - 20 miles long from the picturesque Quantocks down to a lovely seaside town. Does Minehead need another supermarket? I think it is well served with its present three and with the other small shops and excellent butchers. From all I have read in the local press and heard from locals, this is simply a money-making exercise. Those in power ought to turn their attention to improving the town and making it a tourist pulling attraction - I believe the present plans will do exactly the opposite. David Copling, Solihull.