SIR,

I was told when I moved down here from the vibrant North West that the pace of life would be slower, and it would take longer to get things done.

I have noticed in your paper that battles to have new housing here have gone on for years, and now with the Dixton Roundabout area fiasco, there may be yet more delays while the town needs an injection to move it forward.

There is soon to be a new school and there were rumours that the river area was to be beautified. Whoever is making the decisions for this town needs to see what seems obvious to many.

The A40 from the Agincourt roundabout to the tunnel is not fit for purpose at rush hours. The main town centre road is drab and needs a lift. There is so much potential here, but what appears to be a lack of imagination. There is not even an up-to-date playground on Chippenham Park, the obvious location.

The town looks tired and needs a new day, just to encourage someone to do something.

Bolton, where I am from, got its first McDonald's in 1983 and the other shops seemed unaffected.

As Play Officer, I helped secure funding for a £250,000 playground, and despite the cries of no money these days in the coffers, that is more a political decision then a factual one.

There are rumours of a spiritual revival in Newport and Cwmbran, but I hear that Monmouth would have no part in two previous Welsh revivals. I wonder if this is part of the problem.

Maybe these towns are now hungry for change, and those in power here are not. We know not all change is good but Monmouth needs to update its roads, its housing and its vision, or any economic recovery or revival will just pass it by.

Stephen Starkie

(Whitchurch)