Madam,

You write on 4 February edition of the Cambrian News that the two per cent of Gwynedd residents who were able to complete the big, difficult, questionnaire in time for the ‘voting’ showed a lack of support for public toilets, the arts, and public footpaths.

I think rather, those who answered mostly felt these items were very much in need of support, but, bearing in mind the way the questions were put, which was not a free-text or free-choice of comparing issues, those people made choices from within the options put forward only, which they felt were rational and represented priorities within the choices and options available. This was not quite the same thing, unfortunately.

Having done the questionnaire, I am extremely relieved to find that the budget cuts needed are after all not as severe as was thought at the time I did it, relieving the pressure to support a wider range of what are really essential services and facilities in a rural area dependent on tourism for income.

Yours etc

David Church

Tywyn.