Madam, The Gazette, January 21st included a letter from Patrick Hughes, concerning the Tourist Information Centre, in which he said the Town Council ought to take some responsibility for a change.

Since Patrick is a Ross Rural Councillor he must be aware that is the County Council's responsibility. Some years back the Town Council was willing to consider leasing the ground floor of the Corn Exchange to the TIC. The Market House is controlled by the County Council, so to say the Town Council should take some responsibility is false logic, and adding the phrase 'for a change' is gratuitous.

The Town Council, maintains the Skate Board Park, Bandstand, the Larruperz Centre, Deanhill Park and Tudorville cemetery for the use of all local residents and it offered to take responsibility for the Sports Club. Every Mayor raises money for a local charity. It provides Christmas lights, Summer Band Concerts, gives grants to Summer and Christmas Carnivals, and sports organisations amongst others. The Rugby Club has requested several thousand pounds as they move to Greytree, which is in Ross Rural Parish, perhaps that Council will accept that responsibility.

The Town Council provides accommodation for the Citizen's Advice Bureau as it did for the Chamber of Trade and offered Ross Rural a meeting place in the Corn Exchange but that was not accepted.

Everything the Town Council provides benefits the residents in Ross Rural. Does the Rural Council provide anything that benefits the whole town? For a market town to have two parish councils is nonsensical. All the town councillors are elected. When last were there elections in Ross Rural, whose councillors were co-opted? This is totally undemocratic.

I have no objection to the Town Council being criticised, but not for something over which it has no control. Anyone is welcome to raise questions or make comments before the council meetings that take place on the second Monday in each month at 7 o'clock in the Corn Exchange.

Derek Bedford, Ross

PS. I would like to add that apart from this comment I agree with Patrick's other comments on the TIC.