I CAN assure all Courier readers that at no time did the town clerk, on behalf of the Crediton Town Council, intend to be anything but courteous over the matter of the Christmas lights and decorated trees in the High Street.

At the planning stage the clerk contacted Chris Nicholl, co-chairman of Crediton Chamber of Commerce, TWICE by letter but received no response.

We also noted that Mid Devon District Council had withdrawn certain funding for High Street innovation because of the lack of action of the Chamber of Commerce.

This is why the town council, in conjunction with members of Crediton's Arts Centre, Rotary and other volunteers decided to proceed with the outstanding display and parade from which the town and its businesses have benefited!

I am pleased that paid up members will have the opportunity to attend a "General Meeting" of the Chamber of Commerce.

I hesitate to call it an "annual general meeting" because according to the dictionary this has to be "something that occurs each year", and paid up members tell me that they can't remember the last "general meeting", certainly not in 2013.

I am sure that the members attending will be delighted to see minutes of the previous meeting and to be able to cast their eye over externally audited accounts.

In the past all meetings of the Chamber of Commerce were attended by a town council representative.

Should I be invited by either of the co-chairmen to attend the forthcoming general meeting I shall, of course, do so out of courtesy and interest.

Cllr Frank Letch

Mayor of Crediton