SIR,

I attended the meeting held on 20th January about the proposed Wonastow Road development and noted that there are issues that were not raised from the floor or by officers that seemed to deserve answers before consultations conclude.

The proposed development is totally isolated from other dwellings.

The location of the suggested 400 houses appears to require a school run of vehicles twice a day, or long journeys by foot for children attending any school in the town.

This also holds true for adults of any age to go to shops or other amenities at all times of day.

The main exit from the site is through a designated industrial/ business estate that will, hopefully, generate both light and heavy traffic and make passage through this area particularly hazardous for children and aged persons.

The secondary access to the housing is across the flood plain, and then again through an industrial estate. The same hazards apply.

There is reference in the written part of the proposals to children using the latter route to go to school via William's Lane/ Ash Lane.

This presupposes that Overmonnow Primary School will be available to these children.

It says nothing regarding secondary pupils.

The designated recreational area that is bisected by the secondary road invites encroachment and its present designation is unlikely to deter developers for very long.

It was alarming to hear the officer's admission that Newport is building on their flood plain and to extrapolate a situation, say a change of attitude/ complexion of our council, perhaps under the guise of 'desperate needs' for encroachment to occur.

The only safeguard that immediately suggests itself is for this area to be 'gifted' to town in the same way that Bristol Downs or Chippenham are held.

Looking at the proposal as a whole, I wonder if the Wonastow Road frontage designated industrial/ business land proposal is a serious one rather than a bait to get the proposal through?

I know that Monmouth likes to be in the forefront of things, but do we really want to be the first housing estate only accessible through industrial areas?

An extension of the existing industrial area would reduce the need for this proposed area and, of course, release it for a further 400 or so suitable houses.

Many of those present at the meeting expressed concern at the effects that would be felt by increased town centre traffic.

Parking and difficulty in entering the town centre were raised.

The officer's remark 'we'll get cleverer traffic lights' was particularly unfortunate and had an appropriate reaction.

I am forced to conclude that there appears to be pressure for this proposal to go forward without specific assurances on many matters of public concern.

I sincerely hope that members and officers of the council will do more to assure the public that this is not a done deal.

This development is totally unsuited to Monmouth.

(Name and address supplied)