MAY I please be permitted to make a few points concerning Mr Holles' letter (Packet, April 11) to try and answer his points and comments.

The first thing I should say is that as far as I am aware, Mrs V J Carter is not standing as a candidate in the forthcoming local elections for UKIP. What gave him that idea? However, in a democratic country, in which we are supposed to live, as I understand it, as yet free speech is afforded to everyone, even UKIP and non-UKIP candidates.

Concerning the merits of Dianne Merrett's letter, the readers of your newspaper will, no doubt, make their own minds up as to the accuracy of her comments. In my view, if those who have written against her would have the courage to do as she is doing, patrolling the streets, etc, I and your readers could have much more respect for their opinions.

I am not aware of Mr Holles' voting intentions, nor should I be. However, one thing we can reasonably assume, he is not a UKIP supporter, hence his ill-formed letter.

This brings me to my final point. He criticises the comments made by David Parker, chairman of the local UKIP, for saying that UKIP candidates are encouraged to speak as their conscience dictates, not as the party dictates. I may add, unlike the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats. Does Mr Hollis have a problem with that? If so, why? I rest my case.

Barrie Elliott, Boscundle Avenue, Falmouth

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The students we object to are not those who have come to study and behave sensibly but those who behave badly and make a mess of the town and seem to be here for the beer and clubs, not to study.

We have had an art college for many years without it causing too much trouble because it was small. However, there has been an over expansion of the further education system with no thought of the accommodation shortages it causes. We do not blame the decent students for this problem. The fault lies with those that set up the colleges without engaging their brains.

Yet one more example of government and local authority incompetence. It's time they admitted to not being fit for the job.

V J Carter, Tredova Crescent, Falmouth