SIR

We refer to your article regarding Monmouth Town Council meeting of October 25th (Beacon 27th October).

It is with disgust that we have to learn through your pages that the town council, particularly Councillor Malcolm Jones, has an agenda regarding disability access to our premises. The manner in which it was raised and subsequently presented suggests to ourselves and customers that this is an ongoing issue. Not so, this is the first knowledge we have of anyone having an issue in this context.

The Gate House is an amalgamation of probably three 17th/18th century buildings; it adopts the inherent characteristics of those buildings, particularly the changes in levels defined by each.

There are eleven levels in all, making it an intriguing and unique destination venue.

Should Cllr Malcolm Jones have researched the DDA or Part M, or even discussed it with us, he would understand that as part of us achieving planning consent and compliance with building regulations, the aspect of disability access would play a major part of the local authority in granting these consents.

Furthermore, the learned councillor will find that the DDA suggests reasonable adjustment depending on the cost and practicality.

All avenues were explored and it was concluded that any device, eg. ramps or mechanical devices, may cause difficulties for ambulant persons, particularly in event of emergency.

But this is Monmouth Town Council, let us not take up issue with the people it concerns, let us demand a site meeting and go straight for the enforcement officer, this way we can start spending public money immediately.

We have invested immensely in Monmouth and created an amenity adjacent to a unique monument. If disabled access had been possible or practical not only would it have been incorporated but, no doubt, insisted upon under building regulations.

As an aside, the following is a summary of the town council planning committee site visit during the planning appiication process:

Cllr. 1: "You are going to install a stair lift to get me up into this room are you?"

Us: "But there are ten other levels, making it very impractical. Once you're here, we have to get you to other awkward places."

Cllr. 2: "But you are up here."

Cllr. 1: "But if I was more disabled, we have to put a lift in the Shire Hall."

Cllr. 2: "Yes. But there is only one Shire Hall, go to another pub!"

Back to a serious note, if Cllr Malcolm Jones has an issue with our building we suggest he might wish to have the common courtesy and backbone to come and see us instead of pursuing a Halloween Witch Hunt.

P&JA Ramsden

The Gate House