Ken Dennis, of Broadway Avenue, Kingsteignton, writes:

I have to respond to the letters from Mr R Cole and the response from Cllr K Howard regards the benefits of 'village now a town.'

When as a kingsteignton councillor myself I had similar doubts as in December 2008 we were led to believe it was to our advantage to become a town, it was changed to town status under the Local Government act 1972.

Well after 18 months of becoming a town I wrote to this paper to say we still were at no advantage – no stronger voice, Teignbridge Council still had the trump card. As regards being a village or town councillors at kingsteignton are merely consultees.

Now almost four years later I have to say Mr R Cole's concerns are spelt out very clearly as they were all that time ago. There have been no clear visible advantages to the residents.

for cllr Howard to say in response that to look at the enormous urban sprawl that is kingsteignton and say it's a village only serves to make us look ridiculous and is frankly a derogatory insult to those like myself who were born here and have lived here for many years, who were proud of it being the second largest village in the country and who weren't given adequate time to choose to become a town.

Mr Cole is simply asking like many still do what benefit has there been.

Around this time last year I had concerns over discussions over the council tax precept; it was increased for the 2012/2013 year by 17 per cent up £26,000 approx. it was reported then, by cllr R Harris, who is now deputy mayor, that he wanted to make a difference in the town – we are still waiting with bated breath. The only visible difference is improvements to the community hall clerk's office (sorry, town hall).

I'm afraid it's a case of a few councillors' delusions of grandeur of town status which is the only difference.MORE LETTERS IN OUR DIGITAL EDITION