LIKE Martin Cole (letters May 8), my wife and I visited the Marine Lake on the opening day and were very disturbed to see what he also saw. When we were crossing the causeway

LIKE Martin Cole (letters May 8), my wife and I visited the Marine Lake on the opening day and were very disturbed to see what he also saw. When we were crossing the causeway we were especially concerned at the water leaking through the wall on the seaward side. Together with the sign warning of the mud not far from the edge of the sand, and the tape joining the guard rail along the ramp, the picture was that of a job not completed.Having watched the work over many months I feel sure it is a new surface on a raised causeway but perhaps Councillor Elfan Ap Rees should choose his words a little more carefully when dealing with the people he represents. This is not the first time I have read remarks allegedly made by him which are not those expected from a leading public figure.On another topic, I am writing in support of Cllr Elfan Ap Rees, something I thought I would never do. The Mercury headline regarding the closing of the beach is sensationalist and unfortunately I have read more of this type of headline over recent times. Perhaps this explains your claim to increased circulation. The most popular part of Weston's beach has been over many years, nearly 70 to my experience, the stretch between the Grand Pier and the former Tropicana. To use the headline you did is misleading to say the least. There are enough genuine negatives in Weston at the moment without creating more. JOHN FRY - Via emailEDITORS NOTE: Our story was placed on the front page not to be "sensationalist" but to draw attention to a serious threat to Weston's top attraction - the beach. If, as you believe, the most popular section is between the Grand Pier and the Tropicana, our headline was hardly "misleading", since the heavy traffic on the sands between the two, at any time between 8am and 6pm in the summer, will be highly disruptive to the enjoyment of it.