Ray Bridges, of Clarence Street, Dartmouth, writes:

I should like to endorse Andy Borthwick's view about a currently supportive and thoughtful town council in his letter to the Chronicle last week.

Last year the town council recognised the importance of arguably Dartmouth's most important yet under appreciated son, Thomas Newcomen, and granted £11,000 to enable celebrations of the 300th anniversary of his invention of the world's first working engine.

Councillors recognised the huge visitor potential of an international acknowledgement that Dartmouth is where the industrial revolution was born and the importance of those visitors to Dartmouth's many and varied businesses.

We have had visitors from America, Germany, France and Holland as a result of the celebrations. This has produced a legacy that can be built upon.

As another example, at the full council meeting this week, councillors reinforced their financial commitment to the Dartmouth indoor swimming pool by unanimously voting to bring forward a special meeting.

This meeting should release funds to progress the development of a pool that Dartmouth and district residents have wanted for many years.