Madam,

Ceredigion’s ratepayers should be very concerned about the alleged £300,000 overspend on Aberystwyth’s bandstand. What has the council got to hide? Why is it impossible to get answers to questions asking for information regarding public money? The reasons the council is giving for refusing to answer perfectly legitimate questions beggars belief - “Disclosure would adversely affect the local authority’s bargaining position...” and “The parties are entitled to confirm the fact, but not the terms of settlement of the dispute”. What are the problems? Is it in the interest of national security or fighting terrorism? At the end of the day, it’s just a promenade bandstand (occasionally used).

This whole secrecy pantomime is a disgrace. We need to know what is the dispute with the contractor and why did it get to this stage? I hope the Cambrian News succeeds in getting the information about the ‘rumoured’ overspend.

Yours etc

Chris Samuel

William Street

Aberystwyth.