I WAS interested to read of Mr Ernest’s outrage at the art exhibition currently being displayed in the Pier Pavilion.

Clearly the adage that there is no such thing as bad publicity still holds as it caused me to get off my sofa and visit the exhibition by Iwan Bala.

Naturally an individual’s outrage threshold will differ from person to person, subject matter to subject matter.

Personally, my emotion of outrage is tends to be invoked by events of more fundamental concern, such as those occurring in the Middle East at present, rather than a provocative exhibition created in the crude spirit of the Beano comic or saucy seaside postcards from yesteryear.

However, if some of our town are outraged by this art exhibition, I recognise their absolute right to be so.

Where I would disagree with Mr Ernest’s stance, is that the public money contributed to the Pier project was on behalf of all the town of Penarth not just those of Mr Ernest’s viewpoint.

In these troubled and intolerant times it concerns me greatly that Mr Ernest seems to suggest that that the people of Penarth should not be exposed to any cultural influences that extend beyond the boundaries of “local artists”; whatever Mr Ernest’s definition or choice of suitable local artist may be.

The suspicion is that Mr Ernest is less outraged by the actual content of the exhibition, more so by the fact that, on this occasion, it does not resonate in full with his particular political views.

Rob Mahoney

Dyserth Road

Penarth