► TRAINING WALL CONTROVERSY

Harbour and Rubble Wall Proposals: Dear Sir: Although I am no longer a resident of Teignmouth, both sides of my family lived here for many years, and did public service for the town. I therefore feel justified in lodging this protest from the other side of the world.

L E Pottinger, Hong Kong

The Grand Decision. Dear Sir. Nature always has the last word. We are reduced to absolute guesswork. My contention is that Shaldon beach will slip into the trench dredged for the navigation of larger coasters. No one will know until it is too late, and irreversible. Other disturbing aspects are the danger and annoyance caused by the size of lorries on inadequate roads, the inconvenience to our rapidly developing sailing fraternity, the aesthetic ineptitude of the breakwater, the wall’s total burden on the rates, should the clay industry decline, the risk to children climbing over the wall, in view of the faster flowing Teign, the increased pollution from noise, dust and slime, despite protective legislation. On these grounds, I utterly oppose this scheme.

Wheatley, The Round House, Shaldon

► PAINT-SPRAY VANDALISM

Light-coloured walls, garages, gates, lamp posts, street name plates and road signs were affected. Various colours of paint, blue, brown and grey, were used, and slogans referred to Exeter City Football Club. One freshly painted wall in Landscape Road had ‘Exeter City’ in 2ft high letters. Other phrases included ‘Cowshed City’ ‘City Boot Rule’ and ‘City FC’. The council would be able to clean up council-owned walls only, but stocks of paint remover would be made available to residents.

A police spokesman stated that as a result of enquiries, they had interviewed four youths.

► STREET SWEEPING

In this year of 1973, the law has decreed that offenders can be directed to some community service, and the first to suffer was told to do some street sweeping. Such community service was nothing new 147 years ago. It was resolved that a named pauper ‘be directed to sweep the streets, and that he apply to the Waywardens for a wheelbarrow, broom and shovel for that purpose’.

► BULL AT LARGE

A bull roamed loose around the village of Luton on Tuesday. The animal, under the care of Mrs B Huntley-Jones, of The Dell in Bishopsteignton, escaped on Monday. It made its way to Luton and went into a field owned by Mr AVooght of Hamblecombe Farm, where it started fighting with another bull. It broke out of a field and wandered round the village, eventually rounded up in another field at Higher Rixdale Farm. 

► ASTROMONY

Mr Hedley Robinson is well known as a practical astronomer, a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. Of over 40 years’ research, he has found the need of a quick reference book. He has now fulfilled this need in his ‘Astronomy Data Book’, published by David & Charles. It contains a great deal of information, hitherto scattered through numerous publications, some in private hands. The book is designed for easy access without the need for an index, and incorporates blank pages for personal notes.

► RIVIERA CINEMA

Ryan’s Daughter; Explosion; The Curse of The Vampires; Anne of the Thousand Days.