TOWN councillors and members of the public have spoken out against

plans to demolish the old Monmouth Hospital.

At a meeting of Monmouth Town Council's planning committee last

Tuesday (31st August), members recommended refusal of the proposal

to knock down the building and replace it with four town houses and a

block of 21 apartments.

Councillors said the development was inappropriate for what is a

conservation area.

"It is part of the town's heritage," they said.

"One of the conditions of sale was that the building should be

retained.

"The developers have allowed the building to be vandalised – they

should make the building safe and secure."

The town council said it had received numerous letters of objection

and that many people had voiced their dismay at the new proposals.

One objection to the plans submitted to Monmouthshire County

Council (MCC) is from Beverley Ward of Monmouth.

"I object very strongly to the demolition of Monmouth hospital," she

said. If the developers find the site not financially viable, they knew

what they were buying in the first place and they should either refurbish

the building or re-sell the site."

Richard and Liz Wills, in a letter to town clerk Sue James, said: "It

was with dismay that I read in the Beacon, a possibility that the developers

now wish to demolish the hospital building.

"When the developers made their first application, it was to convert

the interior of the building into apartments. This would have maintained

the character of the building and of this particular area.

"It would appear that the developers, in order to maximise the financial

potential of the site, have a complete disregard to the character of

the building and the area."

Cath Hughes-Gardiner, in another objection submitted to MCC, said:

"I find it unacceptable that such a charming piece of Monmouth's history

and heritage should be threatened with demolition, and an

attempt made by the developer to sell this as an 'improvement' to the

area.

"I have no issue with converting the old building into houses/ flats

provided the fabric of the building is retained, but to demolish a building

such as this is implying that the (recent) history of this town has no

worth.

"Please don't destroy the hospital. Restore it, convert it, but value it.

It is a super old building and its loss would be huge."