AS A Totton town councillor I feel I must respond to letters July 13 ‘What do town councillors do for Totton?’ Please don’t just judge Totton, as you quickly drive through the town centre in your car, which I agree is not a very inspiring trip.

But as the saying goes “don’t judge a book by its cover”.

We are in the process of brightening up the town centre with sustainable bee-friendly plants to bring some colour to the town centre. New town signs are nearly completed to go in place soon.

Unfortunately we don’t own the precinct area so we can only request that improvements are made here, which we have done.

On the question of the McDonald’s development, every town councillor fought tooth and nail to prevent McDonald’s being passed at the old Red Lion site.

Unfortunately in the end it was passed by NFDC planning committee. We only have advisory powers on the town council.

As for the town itself, I believe Totton has some of the best amenities anywhere in Hampshire.

Hanger Farm Arts Centre is probably the best around, with lots of shows going on throughout the year, managed exceptionally well by Totton College.

We have probably the best bowling centre, flood-lit tennis courts, BMX and skate board park, paddling pools, an exceptionally well run youth club, squash and badminton courts, and the fantastic Eling tide mill, which still awaits full restoration work when lottery funding is in place.

I could go on and on.

As you can see I feel passionately about our town and honoured and privileged to be on the town council working alongside some extremely hard working councillors.

I haven’t got a problem with people saying what they think of us, or our town, it shows they care. But I ask, please do a bit more research before putting pen to paper.

Arthur Davis, Totton town councillor