SIR,
Roy Nicholas, in his letter of 22nd December, wants to obliterate Llanoronwy, the ancient Welsh name for Rockfield on the basis that names not in common use should be void.
Well, on the roadsign just off the new Monnow Bridge under Rockfield/ Llanoronwy is Skenfrith/ Ynysgynwraidd.
I doubt if this Welsh translation of Skenfrith has ever been in common use; nor, for that matter, many other Welsh place-names.
Mr Nicholas complains that the people of Rockfield were not consulted when Llanoronwy was added to the roadsigns and yet, he now wants to do exactly the same thing in blanking it out.
I suggest that the residents should now be consulted in light of this debate.
It's all very well approving of the anglicised form of a Norman called Roche, but surely an ancient Welsh name, here in Wales, should likewise gain approval.
Guoronwy likely founded the village long before 1066 – he must be turning in his grave.
David Hancocks
(Abermynwy – the original name for Monmouth)