SIR — When Mathew Thresher launched his tirade against Cllr Lennon-Wood (Your Letters November 26), I can only assume it was before he attended Minehead Town Council's meeting last Wednesday.

Cllr Lennon-Wood has been engaged with the problems at Irnham Road since she was elected and has reported regularly to the town council.

Mr Thresher criticises her for "lack of engagement". However, soon after she was elected to the town council in 2007, she worked tirelessly to find a solution to the problems of the social club building.

There was already a dispute between the previous council and Minehead Football Club which had prevented a licence being issued and agreed between the council and the club.

Eventually a licence was agreed and signed by the club to enable them to use the buildings at the Irnham Road Ground.

Cllr Lennon-Wood tried to bring community organisations (including the football club) together in an attempt to restore the building and enable it to cover its costs by bringing it into greater use.

There was then a structural survey which concluded that renovation costs would be better directed towards creating a new sustainable building.

It was then considered a feasibility study was necessary and when the study was reported, the town council agreed to demolish the building and fundraise to replace it with a community sports centre.

An asbestos survey was legally necessary before demolition. The survey found asbestos building materials in a dangerous condition in parts of the building and this has now forced a restriction on the use of the buildings.

Irnham Road Recreation Ground is not closed, it is only the main building that is affected.

There is no restraint on the Minehead Youth Football Club playing football or training on the pitch. The restriction is on the buildings and it has been made clear to Minehead Football Club what this entails.

It is wrong to attack Cllr Lennon-Wood alone for the outcome so far because she has been part of a working group.

The town council has had to evaluate all the reports that have come to the council and any decisions taken so far are those of Minehead Town Council.

Furthermore, the football club has contributed towards the deterioration of the building as it has, over many years, failed to undertake the repairs required by the club's lease.

In conclusion, I fail to see any correlation between Cllr Lennon-Wood's criticism of Somerset County Council, because of the proposed budget cuts, and the effort she has put in for Minehead Town Council and Minehead Town Football Club.

In reference to his last paragraph I would like to remind Mathew Thresher that Minehead town councillors are part of the community and are volunteers as well.

Cllr Ron Bridle,

Mayor,

Minehead Town Council.