Sir,

Once again the Beacon has highlighted the result of Monmouthshire County Council's discredited policy of building on a flood plain – and they have more in the pipeline – notably the 400 houses planned along the Wonastow Road, where trial holes are already being excavated.

At the Local Development Plan meeting, the planning officer, George Ashworth, told the Monmouth protestors that the Wonastow Road site was not on the flood plain and that it would only flood once in a thousand years.

But it is worth remembering that the following week you published Steve Clarke's letter with the Ordnance Survey Geological Map showing that not only was the site on the flood plain but that it was on the alluvium, which is the lowest level of the flood plain.

As the ground for the new houses on the Parc Glyndwr estate is being raised by nearly a metre I would like to know why the new flood pond which has been dug there did not protect the adjoining estate from flooding.

I recall the planning officer, at a public meeting in the Community Hall, defending the building of that estate too.

I expect that Mr Hathaway will tell us that flooding is occurring all over the country but the truth is that the estate was built on the flood plain.

Will Monmouthshire County Council help with the rise in insurance charges which are sure to occur?

Susan Chivers

(Monmouth)