SIR,

For an organisation that should teach community values, Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls (HMSG) has a devious way of behaving.

Its attitude to the residents of The Gardens, which borders the school, illustrates this.

The school previously evaded planning rules and built a car park (which is an eyesore) in its own conservation area.

This apparently went unnoticed by Monmouthshire County Council's planning officers. HMSG furthered this strategy by buying properties adjacent to the car park, with the intention of converting both front gardens into parking space.

Earlier this year, planning consent for that proposal was refused after vigorous objections from Monmouth Town Council and residents. HMSG has now re-submitted this application.

The school claims that converting two attractive landscaped gardens into an enlarged car park to hold nearly 60 vehicles will not spoil the neighbourhood.

This is nonsense. It will benefit HMSG and no-one else.

Everyone interested in protecting Monmouth and its neighbourhoods should object to this application before the deadline of 12th January.

John Dalby-Williams

(Monmouth)