I FOUND the letter from Mark Williams, head of EDDC, quite revealing – sheer force of numbers is unable to sway the proper application of planning law and policy . Perhaps that does not apply to Tesco but, in a democracy, the wishes and aspirations of t

I FOUND the letter from Mark Williams, head of EDDC, quite revealing - "sheer force of numbers is unable to sway the proper application of planning law and policy".

Perhaps that does not apply to Tesco but, in a democracy, the wishes and aspirations of the people can bring down governments and, I suppose, councils by that "sheer force of numbers".

Do you think, Mr Williams, that it is regeneration to cave in to Tesco where we are surrounded by them already?

It would be a far better choice to give Sainsbury's a chance. Tesco could build their hotels and houses at will, that really would be regeneration.

Now, may I ask if your 'development brief of 2004' included the alterations to the toilet/covered seating on our seafront?

Five years of planning and we had five days' consultation about this, which I recall were vigorously opposed. I am in my mid-eighties, one of the increasingly aged population of Seaton who loved this charming old shelter where we could pass the time of day safe from the winter winds and, on sunny Sundays, 'Jock' would open the little storeroom and sell his books for charity.

It should have had the status of a listed building. Now we have an Alice in Wonderland facade, where visitors teeter on the pavement perplexed by the host of keyholes before seeking relief somewhere a little more private.

They are complicated, garish and graceless, like the designer who put his title of urinal on them and the two recycled plastic benches in front.

Planning criteria for a vibrant future, wrote Mr Williams, rings sort of hollow, our future! We have already put the clocks back.

DON?MARINER

Seaton