ENID JEFFERIES, of Sherford Down Road, Sherford, writes:

Hurrah! and thank you Cllr Julian Brazil for your letter sharing our concerns over the sad state of public services in the South Hams and informing us that the district council is hoping to sell its apparently excellent practice to other local authorities. Get real!

On a recent visit to Strete Gate picnic area, a previous favourite with our family, we were met by a jungle of brambles, nettles and long grass completely overwhelming the area, rendering it unattractive and unuseable.

The play area at Beesands is starting to show similar neglect; toilets throughout the area are inadequate and not kept clean; and the whole area is starting to feel decidedly uncared for.

I imagine others could cite many other local examples.  

Along with an enthusiastic team of other folk, I am a volunteer at the Kingsbridge Tourist Information Centre.   We all do this because we love the area and are passionate about sharing its delights with our many visitors.  

Whether they will continue to visit after this year’s experience remains to be seen and the neglect which is beginning to show will, presumably, only get worse.  

Without the wonderful work of the Kingsbridge in Bloom team, I dread to think what Kingsbridge itself would otherwise look like.

Surely tourists are of great value to our local economy and we must take their needs seriously, as well as those of our own residents.  

I, for one, would be prepared to see an increase in our council tax so that we can care for this beautiful area which we are privileged to live in and share with others.  

But South Hams District Council needs to play its part too and stop this project which Cllr Brazil believes is only ‘doomed to failure’.