The Open Spaces Society, the national pressure group for green spaces, has condemned the action taken by Barratt Homes last week to bulldoze the Ditches, a much-loved children's play area at Merton Green in Caerwent.

As reported in a recent edition of the Beacon, the Merton Green Action Group had applied to register the open space as a village green.

Monmouthshire County Council, the green's registration authority, will consider the application next week and there is likely to be a public inquiry. Although Barratt does own the land, if it is registered as a green, any development there would be unlawful.