SIR — Further to John Clyde-Smith's letter (Free Press April 19) concerning the public toilets on Minehead seafront, I would like to clarify the position regarding the provision of the toilet facilities at the railway station.

In line with other stations around the country, the facilities are provided for the use of West Somerset Railway passengers and are therefore open (and cleaned by contractors) on days when the trains are running.

We do not prohibit their use to other visitors when they are open and operate an open access policy towards those who just wish to come on to the platform and take a look around.

However, the needs to keep the toilets cleaned and the costs involved mean that we cannot have them open throughout the year.

Turning to the wider question of reviving the seafront and the town as raised by Mr Clyde-Smith's letter, the vast majority of our 200,000 passengers per annum use Minehead station either as a destination for a day out or take a steam train journey as part of their holiday in the area.

Our commercial department attends some ten or more major travel trade shows around the country each year and a number of local events also, and in addition to the railway's own publicity materials, carries information about both Exmoor and West Somerset and Somerset generally to encourage breaks to be taken in the area.

We also stay in regular contact with some 1,500 contacts in the tourism and leisure industry and as well as our own information include details of events taking place along the route between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead.

We are working hard to attract business but there must be a long look to see what can be done to make sure visitors have a choice of things to do for all ages, on a sunny or a wet day, and are encouraged to visit again.

Paul Conibeare,

General Manager,

West Somerset Railway.