Packet should respect the views of voters

Criticism is fine and constructive, it keeps those with power and responsibility in check. Conversely, attack with misleading information is not worthy.

I sight the County Hall carpet debate as one example. An officer, not a councillor, reported on what it would cost to replace a carpet "like for like" (the original was purchased by the council when under independent control). The Lib Dem council had not even discussed the issue, yet the Skipper wrote about it as if a decision to waste money had already been made. On the other hand, Radio Cornwall gave a balanced report on the same topic, before the Packet went to print.

Similarly, recent reporting on the new county newspaper fails to mention that the county council expects to actually save council taxpayers a huge sum of money with this initiative as newspaper job advertising rates in Cornwall are astronomic. The alternative might be for newspapers to reduce their advertising rates?

Well Skipper, the voters of Penryn have just delivered their verdict by returning another Lib Dem county councillor to represent them, putting the Tories into third place and the Labour candidate, the similarly very vocal Charlotte Mackenzie, a poor fourth.

Skipper, when you feel the need to criticise councillors, and it seems Lib Dems in particular, please respect the voters of Cornwall, follow the example of others and include full and balanced facts in your future writings.

David Crago, Truro (full address supplied)

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EDITOR'S NOTE: The Skipper expresses a personal view which is not necessarily held by anyone else at the Packet. On the question of newspaper job advertising rates, the Packet put a detailed proposal to senior county council officials three years ago demonstrating how huge sums of public money could be saved but our suggestions did not find favour.