John Roadknight, of Buckwell Road, Kingsbridge, writes: After writing to the Salcombe harbour master about the cost of the Kingsbridge pontoon, he very kindly furnished me with the following information: Dear Mr Roadknight, You recently enquired as to the costs of the Kingsbridge pontoon, which was £277,960. This provides 132 berths with an expected 'in-service' life of 25 years. I hope this answers your question Regards, Adam Parnell, Salcombe Harbour Master.

My belief is that large capital outlays like this are welcome when they can be afforded, but not at the expense of cutting back and charging council tax payers for basic public toilet facilities. Shameful! I am sure Nick Ansell, in last week's paper, may well be ­correct in saying that the ­implementation of the toilet charge on the Quay will lead to more male liberation in the ­surrounding area. She may even like to ­nominate proposers of this ridiculous and miserly tax to sit in the boats to be targeted. When it comes to employing outside consultants to conduct a retail and leisure study in Ivybridge, money appears to be no object, but when it comes to taking care of our most basic needs, funds (like our bladders) are squeezed. I believe this paper stated that the cost of employing the aforementioned consultant was in the region of £10,000, a figure approaching a third of the £33,000 annual maintenance cost of the Kingsbridge toilets mentioned in an earlier edition. Couldn't the local chamber of commerce, together with council officials and local shoppers, come up with suggestions and solutions? Having over a 12-year period transported many people ­suffering from prostate cancer from all over the South Hams to their daily radiotherapy ­sessions at Derriford, as a ­volunteer hospital car driver, I am all too aware of the importance of these essential facilities, with two toilets in Salcombe now facing winter closure. With female passengers also in the car, stopping at the side of the road was not an option. Kingsbridge Town Council together with South Hams District Council really have ­succeeded in creating a new meaning and extremes to the term 'penny pinching'.