Editor,

J. Cunningham’s letter (Cambrian News, 11th Nov.) denigrating the existence of second homes is both inaccurate and misleading.

My wife was born in New Quay as were her family for at least the prior 200 years and we married in the local church. Her first language is Welsh and she went to school locally before becoming a nurse in Aberystwyth. I suspect her local credentials and current community contributions are at least equal to those of the letter writer’s.

Upon the death of her parents we inherited their house in New Quay where we now live for 6 months of the year. We attend the local church, eat in the local restaurants, are members of the sailing club and have made a number of financial commitments to the community.We employ local people for gardening, house cleaning, window cleaning and other similar services.Major renovation work took a year to complete and employed five people for throughout most of that period – so we believe we make a contribution !

Notwithstanding the above facts, I have yet to understand how charging me 200 per cent Community Charge will help solve the problem of rising house prices because precious little of the current take goes in that direction. It might make people like the letter writer feel better but the answer is to create a working environment whereby there are good, adequately paid jobs so local young people can obtain mortgages or afford fair rents.

Michael Dean New Quay

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