SIR - I am in complete agreement with Councillors Roger Giles and Claire Wright over the proposal to spend �1,500 on a new mayoral chain, especially in the current climate when so many families are having to tighten household budgets quite drastically in order to keep their heads above water.

If there is a spare �1,500 of public money available, then spend it on something to benefit the community. The skate park still needs funds as do the Ottery Help Scheme, just two of the many community projects that could benefit from the cash.

Hard-pressed families will not be impressed by what most would see as frivolous spending of public monies.

Mrs S Visser

Ottery St Mary

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