Ray has town interests at heart

Having lived in five different seaside towns in north and south Devon and witnessed changes agreed by Local Authorities which have not always been an improvement, I have watched the Longboat application with interest.

Having lived in five different seaside towns in north and south Devon and witnessed changes agreed by Local Authorities which have not always been an improvement, I have watched the Longboat application with interest.

This first effort to alter the appearance of a sea front, which has remained unchanged for many decades, has caused a great deal of bad feeling over the past two years, leading to the vicious verbal attack on Councillor Franklin.

I have attended and often endured literally hundreds of council meetings over the past sixty years and when I first heard Councillor Franklin speak at a local meeting, I immediately sat up and took notice.

Exceptionally, he is a man who is able to express himself clearly and understandably, without the use of unnecessary words.

Obviously, he has the courage of his convictions and does not seek popularity or 'pussyfoot' about in an effort to avoid making a decision or saying 'yes' when he knows that the reverse applies.

The support which he has received since these ill-mannered outbursts is an indication of the popularity of this local man who has the interests of Budlleigh Salterton, as a whole, at heart.

Like many of us, he accepts that change is inevitable and I believe that he will see to it that it will enhance the Budleigh Salterton seafront, rather than degrade it, as the NIMBY's are suggesting

Bill Ridgeway,

East Budleigh.

(by email)