Duty of care

Further to your article in last week's North Somerset Times, I felt I must write explaining fully my feelings.Councillor Elfan Ap Rees is quoted as having said of the contractors who manage the Scotch Horn Centre: "Our contractors carry out normal maintenance of the building but the contract does not require them to invest funds in developing the site."I would respond to that statement saying that the people of Nailsea would not expect any contractors to be obliged to carry out maintenance that includes the refurbishment of the ladies changing rooms. However Councillor Rees when elected to serve the people of North Somerset took on a 'duty of care' along with his fellow councillors.This duty of care charges them to ensure that all public buildings under their control are both safe and hygienic and fit for the purpose. This I feel places on their shoulders the responsibility to maintain the Scotch Horn Centre to the very highest standards, using the monies they have under their control from both the Government and our community charge. Elfan further said that: "We can't keep spending money on new facilities and should be concentrating on improving what we have got already". Very laudable comments, but this money was not given for the improving/maintenance. The 106 money was given as part of a planning agreement and as such should not be used to refurbish the ladies changing rooms or the current cafe! These two projects have creamed off £65,000 from an amount of £106,000 given for the benefit of the people of Nailsea at Scotch Horn. I would also challenge the North Somerset councillors as to why they are spending the balance of the monies providing a soft ball cage. Who has asked for this, who wants this, and who indeed will use it? Mary Ponsonby - Chairman Nailsea Town Council