SIR,

Mr Davies, MP, writes to show his concern over the Rockfield Estate flood victims and then concludes that what we really need is more houses, roads, and workplaces: Beacon 17th October.

Flooding, the elephant in the room, must be ignored.

MCC will no doubt conclude that the flooding had nothing to do with either rain, or the building of new houses on the Parc Glyndwr Estate.

Don't hold your breath waiting for the report. Britain's housing developers, who already hold enough land in their housing development bank to meet the projected needs, but are choosing to sit on it, will continue to rub their hands, and apply for more building land.

Monmouthshire will attempt to oblige them, with 400, possibly 800 houses on the Wonastow flood plain.

This land is already in the hands of private developers, South Wales land Development, based in the Channel Isles tax haven, sold by WAG, through their Regeneration Investment Fund, for a fraction of its value.

At present, it is under investigation by the  Welsh Auditor. Sounds of silence from our AM, Mr Ramsay.

The green light for this flood opportunity, sorry, housing windfall, will come with the recommendation of Ruth Edwards, Chair of Planning and Councillor for Llantillio Crossenny.

She is keen to stress that she has nothing to do with Rockfield Housing Estate. She cannot comment on the drawbacks of such proposals, for, despite recommending the Wonastow Site for development in the LDP in the first place, someone may wish to apply for planning permission, so her lips are sealed. Such an unfortunate Catch 22.

Floods? Don't mention floods. Talk about housing instead. The plebs won't notice.

Michael Jones

(Monmouth)