SIR,

I'm afraid it has come to the point that I have to involve your paper in a situation that has arisen in the town as I have exhausted all other means and have got nowhere.

I am trying to find out if the owner of the Gatehouse has purchased the Monnow Bridge as he seems to be taking it over by blocking the right of access of the town's people with benches and advertising boards.

I find that residents in my ward, such as people with disabilities and mothers pushing prams, are reporting to me that they have had to move the signs on several occasions because they have been blocking the main thoroughfare across the bridge.

The police have been informed of this as it is a police matter and as of yet they have failed to do anything about it; it is an obstruction.

I would like to know that if for any reason the emergency vehicles have to use the bridge, whether or not they would meet the recommended response times by removing the benches and signs out of their way.

I wish the county council and police would pull their fingers out and do something about this.

Councillor John Fletcher

(Monmouth)