Patricia Cormack, ­membership secretary, Waterhead Creek Preservation Society, writes:

As membership secretary of the WCPS, I should like to reply to some of the comments contained in Jonathan Hawkins’ letter, Chronicle, October 16.

Because Cllr Hawkins ­doubted the veracity of our poll of members regarding the proposed Jubilee Park playground, we were obliged to request that members should respond a ­second time, this time directly to the parish clerk. That this request might have added to her workload is regrettable, but can hardly be cause for her to be ‘hounded out of position’, as Cllr Hawkins seems to suggest in his letter.

Furthermore, Cllr Hawkins was sent copies of our WCPS emails to members and has been able to read for himself exactly ‘what the question was’ in our membership poll. His continued implied ignorance in this matter is most misleading.

Given Cllr Hawkins’ recent antipathy towards WCPS, I was surprised when he requested a membership form from our chairman saying he wanted to join WCPS. It was copies of this membership form, made independently by Cllr Hawkins, that ‘were placed on chairs’ at the parish council meeting he mentions. We do not know his motives.

However, our chairman felt that a membership recruitment drive unauthorised by our ­committee was not appropriate in these circumstances, hence the removal of the forms. So far Cllr Hawkins has not returned his membership form and ­joining fee.

Finally, I should like to make it clear that membership of WCPS is open to all residents of Kingswear. It is mischievous of Cllr Hawkins to infer otherwise by claiming to have been told that ‘only invited people could be members’.

WCPS has recruited members by blanket leaflet drops and by leaving membership forms in the village shop.  Anyone is welcome who agrees with our aims of trying to ­preserve the natural beauty and tranquillity of the Waterhead Creek area for all to enjoy as a peaceful haven from the bustle elsewhere.