PAT MOLE, of Newton Abbot, writes: I am writing to you with regard to Teignbridge Council's reviews on water features in local parks and leisure areas. As a grandparent, I often took my grandchildren to the Decoy paddling pool during the last summer school holidays and what a tremendous success it was. Yes, it certainly meets the needs of the children, both local and visitors alike. Can it be improved upon? Yes, I believe a grated soakaway round the pool, to stop the ingress of mud from the surrounding banks, and a few more seats, would make it almost perfect. What a wonderful facility it is, providing old-fashioned leisure time for the family. Of course, we all know what's behind the review. Instead of a well-tried and loved paddling pool, the locale will have placed upon it a modern, gimmicky water splash zone. It follows, of course, that there will be less chance of litigation against the authorities due to health and safety issues. Our way of life is slowly being eroded by rules and regulations emanating from bureaucratic offices, both in this country and in Europe. Please, when making this decision, keep to basics and keep the children's needs and preferences to the fore.
