MRS J WRIGHT, of Bigbury, writes: On Wednesday, December 10, our parish council voted by four to two, with one abstention, to purchase a 6ft x 3ft x 1ft granite horse trough for £500 for our village green to be planted with flowers. The trough has no connection whatsoever with our village or parish. It is to be put on a much overcrowded small village green with a seat, much used by walkers, and four trees – a rowan, evergreen oak, oak and beech. It is a traffic hazard obscuring the view at the 'no entry' signs. As far as I am aware, the ­residents around the green were not consulted on their views, and I feel the parish council should have obtained all the views of the villagers and not voted on the fact that it might enhance the village since the Royal Oak, garage and shop have all closed. I think it would have been far more beneficial to the village if it had pursued obtaining amenities for the parish, such as buying more lengthsmen time for trimming overhanging banks, keeping the buddle holes unblocked and emptying the communal rubbish bins. I hope it will revise its risk assessment for carols on the green. And should planning permission have been sought, as we seem to need it for ­everything else?