Thanks, Beacon! THE Beacon's front page story last week about county councillors' expenses brought a predictable response from our readers. Below, we reprint a letter from well known and highly respected parish clerk, Roy Nicholas (pictured), while other letters are printed inside. One reader has sent us a copy of the expenses claimed by councillors in the Forest of Dean. Counc Marion Winship was paid a total of £8,867, while veteran councillor Frank Beard was paid £5,454. It is worth noting the leader of Monmouthshire County Council, Andrew Crump, was paid nearly £40,000 in allowances and expenses. The basic attendance allowed claimed by county councillors in Monmouthshire is close on £12,000, while across the border, in the Forest of Dean, it seems to be about £3,000. Another reader, whose full letter, headed "A nice little earner", will appear next week, said "Congratulations on printing the expenses claimed".
