TODAY I met a lovely couple, their daughter and their dog, in Poole, down by the Quay.

They live in Lincolnshire but have holidayed in Poole for two weeks every year for a number of years. Today they mentioned as to how disappointed they were with the changes in Poole since last year.

The fact that Poole Pottery is to close, the lack of public toilet facilities and other such changes to the detriment of the town.They, I believe, stated what numerous other tourists are thinking too.

If the local council allow this degradation of our town any further we will have no tourist trade any more and the town will surely die a complete and utter death. I find this all very sad. When I moved here in 1995 I had to pinch myself to tell myself that I was lucky enough to live here. But now I find myself more and more ashamed to be a resident here.

I find myself having to explain "my home town's failure" to tourists and visitors. Three years ago I worked the summer season on the Land Train and learned a lot about the history of Poole so as to give the visitors a lovely guide to my home town.

I am glad I don't work on it now as I would feel like a fraud telling them all how great it is when in reality it is failing both residents and visitors alike.

So please Poole council re-think and see what our "beautiful" town looks like now to visitors- we DO want them to visit again but it seems that you are intent on putting visitors off!

SHIRLEY WORTH

Jolliffe Road, Poole