MADAM,

In your edition of 21st December, Rachel Jupp’s letter expressed the hope that the matter of the re-siting of the playground could be approached in a spirit of open-mindedness by members of the planning committee (Saddened by playground negativity, 21st December).

On attending the meeting of the planning committee on 16th January I was disappointed to learn that this was far from the case. Good, relevant points were made by members of the public and also by a few members of the town council but I cannot recall answers being given when questioned. Even a question as straight forward as ‘how many councillors use the playground’ was ignored.

The hostile tone of many letters opposing the relocation say that decisions should be taken by ‘Monmouthians born and bred’. Presumably these same people allowed Chippenham Mead to be shrunk by the incursions of Waitrose, Monmouth School and most injurious of all, the A40.

It is not the fault of Miss E Ashby and her peers that the playground is situated in an unhealthy, isolated location and this has been a sadly missed opportunity to improve facilities for future generations.

Paul Ramage

(Monmouth)