ROBIN DADSON, of Church­fields, Dartmouth, writes:

I write in reference to the comments made by Cllr Robin Springett, Gazette, September 9, regarding the recent regatta, and I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiments expressed.

Furthermore, judging by ­conversations I have had with a fair few local people since regatta ended, I am led to believe that there are many more who would also concur with his remarks, particularly in that they did not feel ­excluded from their own town due to fewer people attending.

I do, however, find the front-page article with the headline ‘Regatta success in the sunshine’, Gazette, September 2, somewhat puzzling to say the least.

We are informed that ­‘smaller crowds and less action in the air, with more emphasis on river activities, provided a recipe for enjoyment, particularly among local people’. We are then told that, at that time, the financial results had yet to be calculated, ‘but it’s not all about the ­financial element’.

During regatta I was in town on Thursday, Friday and Saturday for a good number of hours and feel that the claim that the number of people had been ‘slightly down’ is somewhat optimistic to say the least.

The plain, simple fact is that I, together with a large number of local people who I spoke to, thought the numbers were drastically down compared with previous years’.

It was also very apparent that there was a minimal ­number of volunteers rattling tins in support of regatta funds this year; in fact, during a two-hour visit to the town centre I did not spot a single one.

I mentioned this to one ­regatta official, who agreed that I was not imagining things, and not only was there not the number of volunteers, but the crowds were far from generous with their contributions to those few who were there.

The so-called ‘popular’ Shopping Village was being discussed openly among locals as being half empty, and such goods that were on offer were reputed to be very expensive. I did check this out for myself and feel these comments were not unwarranted.

If this is the case, and as ­suggested by Cllr Springett, can the expense of a large marquee be justified in future? I also got the impression that there were somewhat fewer traders in the street market than in days of yore, but I could be wrong on that one.

In visiting several hostelries, I was surprised to find some comparatively quiet, which has since been confirmed by other acquaintances of mine who enjoy a drink.

During the past couple of weeks, several other local traders have told me that their daily takings were no better than they would have expected for an average day in August.

Although I did not witness either of the firework displays myself, I have been informed by more than one person that Thursday’s event was not so well attended as in previous years, although I have heard no comments regarding the one held on the Saturday.

Once the financial results are known – and evidence seems to suggest that they could be ­disappointing in the extreme – will the claim of a ‘success’ be revised when it becomes ­apparent that the ‘financial ­element’ is of some importance after all? And if there should be a loss, who will be expected to pick up the shortfall?

The real enigma, however, is that, having sought to assure people that smaller crowds, lesser activity in the air etc had resulted in a far more enjoyable regatta, we are then told that every effort is being made to bring back the Red Arrows next year, which will surely serve to boost crowds and destroy the very situation that it is claimed made this year’s event such a success.

I am afraid your spokesman really cannot have it both ways.