A MONMOUTH archaeologist has spoken out against housing developer Taylor Wimpey. Chairman of Monmouth Archaeology Society, Steve Clarke, has lashed out against an 'inadequate' and 'biased' report produced for the housing company, regarding a proposed building site on Rockfield Road. Mr Clarke has written to Monmouth Town Council expressing his concerns over the plan, which were discussed at a town planning meeting yesterday (Tuesday 28th May) as the Beacon went to press. The plan, proposed by housing developers Taylor Wimpey, has an objective to build 180 houses on the Rockfield Road East site. Their archaeological assessment was undertaken by Cirencester-based The Environmental Dimension Partnership (EDP) in September of last year. In his letter Mr Clarke said: "I do not consider that the...report is a valid assessment of the archaeological potential of the proposed development site as the research is inadequate and the conclusions biased towards the development. "Most of the area is under pasture which cannot be expected to produce extensive evidence of any underground archaeological resource. "To investigate this, further work – including trial excavations – was suggested by the council's archaeological advisors but dismissed as unnecessary in the developer's assessment (2.3). "The new housing estate at Parc Glyndwr, a few fields to the west of the proposed development site, was also under pasture but was found to contain a New Stone Age site, six Bronze Age sites as well as indications of Iron Age and Roman occupation.   "The council's archaeological advisors informed The EDP of the discoveries at Parc Glyndwr and of the post-glacial lake which will have extended across the proposed development site. "Evidence of the prehistoric lake which was associated with these remains has been accessible in the Historical Environment Record (HER) from as early as 2003 (Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust (GGAT) report 2003/069). There is a strong likelihood that such nationally important remains extend over the development area." Mr Clarke claims EDP's research doesn't contain a single reference to any of the scores of relevant archaeological publications or the hundreds of entries in the Historic Environment Record in the surrounding area. The archaeologist said: "It appears that none of the prehistoric, Roman or medieval discoveries in the surrounding area – which are in the public domain – have been consulted. "This has created a misleading history and an inaccurate background to Monmouth. For instance...there is no mention that just south of the proposed development site, in Drybridge Park, the first medieval pottery industry (in Britain) to have been producing high-quality glazed wares in a clamp was unearthed." Mr Clarke fervently believes the report does not meet the requirements of National Planning Policy of Welsh Office Circular 60/96 and planning Policy Wales Fifth Edition. "I also consider that it does not adequately meet the requirements of the Local Planning Policy," he said. "And I note that the author is not a member of the Institute for Archaeologists." A Taylor Wimpey spokesman said: "The archaeological assessment report which accompanies our planning application for Rockfield Road East, Monmouth, has been prepared by specialist consultants with considerable experience and expertise. "The report was prepared in accordance with current best practice professional guidance, as well as in consultation with the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust, who are satisfied that it is robust."