Andy Borthwick, of Chapel Lane, Stoke Fleming, writes:

So, Cllr Dave Cawley says that the past Dartmouth Town Council has achieved a 'whole flurry of things' and that the council of the last two years 'has not done anything', Chronicle, March 22.

He quotes among other so-called achievements of the past council the provision of the 'sports hall', by which he presumably means the leisure centre.

As the chairman of the group which raised the money and oversaw the building of the leisure centre, my memory of the situation is rather different. I clearly remember the process was constantly delayed and, as a result, put at risk by constant wrangling and argument at the town council which finally made a very reluctant and delayed contribution to the cost, with the bulk provided by Sport England, Souht Hams Council and Devon County Council through the Dartmouth Community College.

As for the current council doing nothing, perhaps Cllr Cawley could remember that it is making a significant contribution and providing positive and ongoing support for a new swimming pool – a support that was at best tepid and non-committal from the previous council.

And, indeed, I have a recollection that Cllr Cawley himself was expressing doubts and still vacillating even when the new council voted to support the pool.

Finally, the implicit suggestion that the previous council worked together with local organisations does not fit with my experience as someone who through various positions – chairman of governors at the cmmunity college, first chairman of the MCTI and now trustee of the swimming pool – has attempted to interact with the council over the past years.

Until recently 'working against' would be the term I would have used about the previous councils when faced with any type of innovation or development for the betterment of the town and district.