Cllr Jan Henshall, of Wood Lane, Kingswear. writes:

The statement attributed to Kingswear Parish Council made in your article concerning Lighthouse Beach, Chronicle, January 22, did not represent accurately the council’s position.

The council has negotiated with landowner David Southwick and agreement on a course of action has been reached. That there have been delays during this process is indisputable. The landslide three years ago was an enormous setback. But to imply that the delays were orchestrated by Mr Southwick, as the article does, is misleading and quite untrue.

The latest delay, which has caused great frustration to many of us, is the constant ­prevarication and failure to act upon the decision that we as a council took at our meeting on October 13 last year.

This decision to carry out a risk assessment on the beach for the purposes of public ­liability insurance is an obvious next step and is essential for reasons of public safety if ­residents are to be using the beach anytime soon.

Thankfully this decision was readdressed and reaffirmed at the January meeting of the council and is being followed through as quickly as possible.

I believe that the residents of the village would like to see the beach open for use at the first possible opportunity, and with good faith on both sides that is achievable.

Such misrepresentation as this could undermine the ­goodwill and the progress of the entire negotiations.