I RECENTLY returned home from Somerset and read the front page article regarding the Pollyfield Centre. My first reaction was oh no, not again, but now it is pure anger.

Having said that, I am now saying that enough is enough, and that  I am just not  going to sit back any longer and allow our community in East-the-Water to be embarrassed by the running sore of our community centre. It is an insult to our dignity and I fear we are becoming a laughing stock.

I consider that I am qualified and entitled to comment having in the  past been actively involved in helping to run the centre in my capacity as a trustee from August 2008 and a bar director and the designated premises supervisor from early December 2008  until the middle of February 2009.

I am not perfect, I am not a Saint, but I truly care about this community and this continual struggle with our centre has got to stop to enable us to regain our self-respect and sense of purpose especially for our children who I believe have been sorely treated throughout.

Mrs Pat Ferguson, the manager, is being paid £24,000 a year and it is clear the grants from Tarka, Torridge District Council and I believe Bideford Town Council must be going to pay her salary. I worked for nothing as a trustee and still it was a struggle to pay the bills and welcome this and Tarka's sensible decision to withdraw funds for the time being. It should also be noted that her contract expires shortly.

With willing and capable trustees her duties could be carried out without the need to pay a large salary therefore giving an extra £20-£30,000 of grant monies directly back to the centre where it is urgently needed to give the children more facilities for instance.

I am  so angry, the situation stinks.

MIKE SPENCE,

Former trustee of the Pollyfield Centre,

East-the-Water.