Well it was Sue who wrote it in last month’s Scene and the victim was ‘Your Village Paper!’

She aked for comments and although the response was not overwhelming four suggestions were received representing 1% of 400 households!

But all four commented on one aspect, so thats 100% agreement! What the B.B.C. exit poll would make of that Heavens only knows – maybe “The Russians are Coming!”

The constructive criticism was on the three “P’s” :- Paper – Printing – Presentation.

No brickbats intended for our competent, long suffering, printer who works wonders on our old rusty, creaking duplicating machine using wax skins together with faint hope and a fervent prayer (or two or three or sometimes four on a hot day!)

Very little can be done to improve the product on existing machinery.

Your Editorial Staff (God Bless them, they’re lovely!) have, with feminine fervour, researched alternatives.

The only viable choice is to invest in a second hand photo copier. This would entail a capital cost of £800 plus 9p per copy maintenance charge which would be advisable in an old machine. Paper would be about 5p per sheet. So for a twelve sided edition the cost would be 12×9 & 5x6p or 15p round figures (the editor only works in round figures!)

Remember 400 copies – ten times a year and the total running cost for printing and paper alone would be £600 – present costs approx £400.

The questions therefore are four in number – (all questions must be attempted!)

1. Does our village wish to invest in a photocopier.
2. How to raise the £800 capital involved
3. How to raise the extra £250 per annum running costs.
4. Where to locate the new machine and how to run it on a cost effective basis- hiring it out to other users during its inactive period during the month?

Answers please on one side of foolscap exam paper!