“to the understanding VICTIM of racial abuse, i have told many white pepole who have moved to combe martin and continuousley taken the mick out of us to go bk to where they come from and i will continue to do so to all of you that do move here and abuse the loacal people for the way we speak or calling us inbreds or for even your own comment sayin "no wonder theyre called combe martians!" is that not a pregadist or racist comment judging all the villagers as the same? i would say the same to any person regardless of there skin colour as im sure most people would, that if we are all so bad and inbred and thick and you dont like the rules then go back to where you came from. simple. would u allow someone to walk into your house and start doing what they like??? no. well in my eyes the village is our home and people should respect the rules. i am no racist and i no nicki isnt either. its just been blown out of preportion and is pathetic. poeple need to see that there is so much more going on in the world and get a life! and the sad thing is that nicki and her family have done so much to help other people in the world in hospitals etc and charitys for romanian orphans at xmas etc but that all gets forgoten about doesnt it. so how can she be a racist????”

“I've just found this series of articles about racism in Combe Martin when l did a search for racism as part of my studies. I find it absolutely staggering that in 2009 people are expressing such narrow minded prejudiced opinions. I also find it shameful that the Parish Council involved has been so backward in getting to grips with this issue. Sadly this may suggest the evident indigenous prejudice in your area is deeply entrenched in the council as well. Some of the comments about wicker men and the like l find deeply disturbing, as is the cowardly hiding behind stupid names such as I've an eadache etc try to justify racism, and in some cases to bully, threaten and goad those with differing (propper in this day and age)beliefs. I do so hope that Combe Martin is an isolated hotbed of such cowardly bigotry, because l find this to be a very frightening outpouring from a small rural community.”

“Dear Anthea Slade. Congratulations, thank you and well done! I too am of mixed race and moved from London to this area. I was born in London and have suffered racial abuse all my life too. The only difference between living in London and living here in Devon is the way racial abuse is displayed. In London there is a lot of verbal and physical racial abuse. I have found that in Devon the racial abuse is displayed in a very hidden and quiet nature, only noticeable to non white people, except when enraged such as in your case. Then the true colours emerge! I have to say that although it is under blanket here, I have suffered more underhand racial abuse in Devon than I have in my whole life! I have been treated very differently to other people here with little or no respect. I have been made to feel excluded but I have a right to live where I please. I have never let anyone stop me from living my life even though my confidence is often knocked down! Although I am a British Citizen, right from childhood, I too have often been told to go back where I came from ¿ ¿on a banana boat¿! I am not a foreigner in this country but have always been treated as such. Cllr Nicky Tossell and her supporters clearly feel that they own the village and need to come back down to earth and live in the real world of today, no wonder they are called Combe Martians! Lots of people have argued that it wasn¿t a racial comment but would one white person in the village shout at another white person that ¿ ¿There are too many foreigners in this country now. We don't need people like you in this village'."??? I don¿t think so! I have constantly seen, this being a tourist area too, white people being served in shops in a polite manner even though they haven¿t even opened their mouth yet! They could be Swedish, German etc yet they are greeted with more respect than a resident of this area. I receive the silent treatment and am often made to wait unnecessarily in order to be served! There are many other examples of abuse but this is not the place. Because it¿s done in a quiet way other people don¿t see it until situations of anger arise as in your case. I commend you on your bravery and for bringing one important case to light. I hope you continue to live in Combe Martin and not let anyone prevent you from living where you choose. Enjoy this beautiful area you deserve it! All best wishes for the future.”

“I also feel that it is a real shame that this has happened in your village.
Nicky has done a lot of good work for the village - she has also done a great deal of damage and seemingly offered no apology.
These comments should not have been made by her and have reflected badly on her and her supporters, and further indicated that there is widespread prejudice within Combe Martin.
I am glad that as a non councillor Nicky and her family support are getting support from their friends. I hope this is along the lines of "Love the sinner, Hate the sin" and not that there was any justification for her behaviour towards her unfortunate victim.
If as many claim, Nicky has been wronged by the legal process, let her prove it in the courts. This would seem to be the basis that most people establish what is true, no doubt if the courts find they have made a mistake Nicky will have a lot more - justified - sympathy and support for her position.”

“I feel that it is a real shame that this has happened in our village. Nicky has done a lot of good work for the village - most of which with no thanks. These comments have been blown well out of proportion. There is a huge parking problem in the village and people who live in certain places must get really annoyed with inconsiderate people parking outside their houses. Anyone who is local will know that a 'foreigner' is anyone who is not born and bred in the village. It is not a racist remark and i'm sure most people who have moved into the village will have been called a foreigner more than once.
I wish Nicky and her family all the best and to let you know that there are lots of local people who fully support you in this matter.
Take care.”

“i no longer live in Combe Martin and reading about the behavior of the local council I am glad,God help you if they dont like you.I remember one
or two of the councillors and I would have thought they are the last to sit in judgement on anyone.
However,to the point,We used to often call folk who came from Combe (Ilfracombe)
foreigners no offence meant it was almost a term of friendship. we would ask them if they had their passports or who gave you permission to cross the border and we would have a laugh.For goodness sake it is all got out of hand.I must say I think the term:Inbred is dreadful and after all we are not cattle or have I missed the point?I think understanding on differing ways of life is called for,anyway I will remain here in Barnstaple where they call me ole foreigner from Combe Martin every day of the week
Combe Martin do think about kicking the butts of your so called council after all they are supposed to be representing you???”

“'North Devonian, North Devon' calls us 'you people'. Shouldn't that be 'we' seeing as they're still writing comments themselves? Anyway if it's so boring why don't they just switch off? Nobody's got a gun to their head. Join in or mind your own business I say!”

“North Devonian. Well, not so boring you aren't still reading them. What have you done then, taken your laptop into the sunshine? Take care not to get too much of a tan. It used to be it wasn¿t good for your skin. Now it¿s not good for anyone you may have a row with!”

“Will, Braunton. In answer to your question. No, we don't vote on it. That would be too democratic for us thick yokels. How we normally find our 'volunteer' is like this. A party of us (who don't have the brains of a carrot between us) come to Braunton....................!!!!”

“Why don't you people go outside and enjoy the sunshine? Your comments (both sides) have become a very boring argument.”