Strategic thinking, please

Friday, February 10, 2012
10.01 AM

Exmouth now twinned with Clochemerle! But seriously, we have all been there; I know I have.

I have to agree with Geoffrey Smith (letters, February 2).

A misunderstanding is perceived as a mistake. A mistake is interpreted as a misdemeanour.

Then, before you know it, with a touch of political opportunism, with an ounce or two of personal anger and self-righteousness, set in a context of general dismay, the story will run as only small-town stories do.

For goodness sake, the money has not gone missing. Nor has it been wasted, which is more than can be said for other recent public expenditure.

Having said that, one would have expected a district council (or even a county council) to give priority to an information centre for tourists as a public service, given that they are our town’s major source of income, and not expect this to be a business in its own right.

It is that absence of strategic economic thinking which is the real scandal.

Peter Brain

via email.