HAVING lived in Bournemouth for eight years now, I have grown to love the town so much, that the time I spend at my original home in Wincanton, Somerset, has dwindled to two visits in the last 18 months.

Last Sunday, we had a visit from our neighbours there. As we walked along the promenade in beautiful warm sunshine, and with many people using the beach as if it were summer, my neighbour said to me “I can really see the benefits of living here Derek.”

Another benefit is looking forward to reading my Daily Echo. In addition to the many articles, there are guides to all events, motoring, housing, sport and all the news items are of special interest, being centred on the local area.

However, with most things good, come those which irritate you. Without naming particular examples again, the town is full of extraordinary planning decisions.

These decisions of course originate from Bournemouth council. Unfortunately, despite my love of Bournemouth, I have no reason to feel the same way about our councillors and the scandalous money-wasting decisions they have made over the past eight years.

It is unbelievable in my mind that councillors are handed millions and millions of tax payers money and in many cases they are not suitably experienced in business methods of their own, to be trusted with decisions of this magnitude.

DEREK J HOOPER, Gervis Road, Bournemouth