I WAS astounded to read (Crediton Courier, September 24) that a renovation of the children's paddling pool in the Newcombe's playground is estimated at just under half a million pounds. Really?

A half-a-million-pound, knee-deep paddling pool?

Now I would say that this looks like what I have come to call a 'public-money bonanza'.

I would hope that pressure can be brought on the two councils (Mid Devon District Council and Crediton Town Council) to find builders who will provide an excellent service at a regular and reasonable cost.

Or perhaps builders reading this letter who believe they could provide such a service should write to the town clerk with an estimate?

While we are on this matter of sums flowing out of the public purse, please note that there is apparently not enough money to renew the tiny and foul-smelling booth called the gents toilet on the edge of the town square.

Re-tiling and new porcelain - but perhaps this small renovation would run into the hundreds of thousands too...

Graham Ley

Sandford