RAY BRIDGES, chairman, Newcomen 300 Celebrations, writes:

The article in the Chronicle last week headline '... but council unsure of 300th celebrations' was very interesting but in no way a reflection of Dartmouth Town Council's true position regarding its supportive funding of the Newcomen celebrations.

It is fully behind the Newcomen 300 celebrations because Thomas Newcomen is an important figure not just in Dartmouth's history but in the history of Britain and the world. His engine was the first in the world and it kicked off the Industrial Revolution which subsequently built Victorian England's prosperity and influence.

The town council, sometimes criticised for not being proactive, recognises that its investment in raising the profile of Thomas Newcomen is not just about celebrating the tercentenary of his great invention but building a legacy for the town which will boost tourism and increase visitors not only this year but into the future, very important in these straitened times.

Everyone benefiting should welcome their initiative and join in with the celebrations.

The council's investment is sound and the Newcomen 300 Celebrations committee welcomes more investment from commercial enterprises to make the legacy long-lasting.

For example £8,000 would enable us to place a one third scale model of Newcomen's engine on the traffic island at the entrance to Dartmouth.