JOHNNY CHICK, of The Old Market, Dartmouth, writes:

There have been many periods through history that we must surely learn from. The French revolution stemmed from undemocratic behaviour and resulted in many heads being removed.

Now I have an idea, instead of paying the outgoing clerk to the town council tens of thousands of pounds why don't we build a guillotine outside malfunction junction (The Guildhall) just as a reminder for those who enter, of what happened in the old days when the people get fed up.

Never in my life have I heard so much bickering and in some cases bitching going on within a town council. Recently as the pink smoke rose from the chimneys of the junction when a new mayor was elected, one may have thought a change was in the air but sadly that was not to be.

The Guildhall has been the laughing stock of Dartmouth for many years but now we are close to making a serious TV sitcom. The script is there, the actors are in place. The leading part could be played by one councillor who is so keen to become the mayor that I am convinced that when he goes home of an evening he dresses up in red gown and fake chain of office and goes straight to a tall mirror in the hall, picks up his rubber hand on a stick, pats himself on the back a few times then emails everyone to tell them how well he has done.

I am all in favour of just letting him be mayor for one year, only simply to get it over and done with and then he might go away. There are conditions though. No plaques with his name on, no photos, no speeches outside of The Junction, in fact he mustn't be seen or heard from for a whole year but if it keeps him happy let him put the chain on and have his fun.

One of the most important magazines for the benefit of all the visitors who come to the town and surrounding areas is 'Discover Dartmouth'. It is issued and organised by the Dartmouth Tourist information Office. Two vital and historical areas of the town are partially or totally owned by the DTC. I will list them because it is evident that the Junction gang have forgotten. They currently rent some twenty plus businesses to individuals in these areas.1 The Butterwalk and Museum, 2 The Old Market and Square

Not a mention, not a whimper, not a single photo not even a crumb in the loaf. Two years ago they promised to market and promote the Old Market and they have failed and let down everyone of the 14 outlets. One may have a view that it is down to each and every business to pay for an advert in the magazine, but in my opinion they cannot afford to.

If £50k plus can be found to pay off a Town Clerk, a few thousand invested in their own town may be a better bet in these tough economic times. The town is falling apart at the seams and the DTC cannot see it, or they don't want to see it.

Just another example of what happens when there are 16 clowns in the circus all blindfolded wearing earmuffs and trying to dance under an electric fence.