WITH reference to the Lydney Town Council recruiting a part-time finance assistant.

It is noted that one of the essential criteria would be a proven ability to manage multiple budgets/budgets in excess of £500,000.

This does bring into question why is recruitment necessary? Surely this is why the Lydney Town Council in 2010 employed and also educated a new town clerk, at great expense to the electorate, to make sure that all these criteria were being met?

Before the voices are raised with the expression that we must realise ‘great oaks from little acorns grow’, I begin to suspect that our problem is not having to deal with ‘great oaks’ but the necessity to deal with the effect of Japanese knotweed.

Are we looking at the further development of empire building?

– W L Owen, Lydney.