Tracy Leese in her letter in the Chronicle, published on March 16, asked: 'Shouldn't we be concentrating on rebuilding our diminishing businesses in our town centre?'

The tercentenary of Thomas Newcomen's great invention of the steam engine is the best opportunity to do this for many years. Celebrations are good but perhaps more important is the long-term legacy.

Torbay makes much of Agatha Christie and generates thousands of visitors to Greenway House – Dartmouth has a much more important historical figure who is virtually ignored.

In the centre of Dartmouth is the last remaining 300-year-old original steam engine in the world, invented by the genius of Thomas Newcomen. The town should be overrun with visitors to the Newcomen Engine House from all over the world – but it isn't.

Devon, South Hams and Dartmouth Town Councils, are making the engine house – attached to the tourist information centre for those who don't know – and adjoining garden, a focal point in the town at a cost of some £40,000-plus.

The Newcomen 300 Committee plan to build an 8ft high monument to Thomas Newcomen on the roundabout at the entrance to the town.

This will help to stamp Dartmouth and Newcomen on the minds of the one million-plus visitors who pass through Dartmouth every year and to those who drive from the Higher Ferry straight up the hill out of town.

To do this we need to raise £5,000 and donations from businesses in the town will be very welcome. Donations can be sent to the NatWest bank – Newcomen 300 Celebration a/c.

This tercentenary year is an ideal opportunity for the business community to get behind these Newcomen celebrations in whatever way they can, to change Dartmouth's commercial fortunes for the better – not just this year but for the future.

Just think, we could have boat and coach trips coming to see the 'world's first engine'.