Audit worries
SIR,
On 15th August, you published an article by AM Nick Ramsay welcoming the decision to abolish the Audit Commission.
I have no objection to auditing taking place in a local setting "drawing on professional audit experience across the country".
He goes on to say it will ensure taxpayers money is well spent – yet pours scorn on "trivial investigations against Welsh councillors". I would have thought thoroughness was a basic requirement of any audit.
What is essential is that any firm contracted to audit local authority accounts is appointed by a body with no local authority connections, responsible for costs involved and payments to the contracted firms.
The costs can then be recovered from the local authorities.
If the local authority is responsible for setting up the audit contract and paying the costs, then the saying 'he who pays the piper calls the tune' springs to mind.
The last thing we need is for cosy relationships to develop between local authorities and contracted audit firms.
Colin Perrott
(Monmouth)
Pleased with Foie Gras protest
SIR,
I would just like to say how pleased I was when visiting Monmouth Raft Race on Sunday to meet the lovely ladies who were demonstrating against The Crown at Whitebrook for selling Foie Gras.
This is such a terribly cruel product to sell where the poor little ducklings are caged, tortured and then killed to satisfy a few.
Foie Gras has been banned from being produced in this country as it is so cruel, so please think about the ethics of supporting those in business who continue to sell such products.
Perhaps Monmouth would be better off finding another sponsor for the raft race who actually promote the gorgeous town and countryside that you have rather than draw the wrong attention to it.
You have such a unique and quaint, vibrant town, long may it continue. If anyone would like further information contact Viva, 8 York Court, Wilder Street, Bristol BS2 8QH, they have some very good leaflets.
C Powell
(Putson, Hereford)
Street collection
SIR,
The Royal Naval Association Monmouth Branch held a street collection on Saturday 28th August.
A total of £514.36 was collected which will be distributed among charities which the branch supports.
Last year, these included the British Limbless Ex-servicemen's Association, TS Ross and Monmouth SCC and QARNNS (Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service).
This year's have yet to be decided. We are grateful for the generosity shown by the people of Monmouth (and our visitors).
CS Rogers
(Chairman, The Royal Naval
Association, Monmouth Branch)
Time to abolish the town council?
SIR,
Oh dear – more myths about the Shire Hall.
The town, community or parish council did not exist before 1974 and has no historic rights.
The once respected borough councillors became part of the Unitary Authority, but had no rights in the building except their Borough Court, which is now called the 'Old Library Community Room' – a ghastly name – built in 1830, with one ground-floor room where the Tourist Information Centre was, and will be again.
They had relinquished any access to the rest of the building except to hang and use the market bell.
In 1956 they were allowed to move their borough council meetings upstairs, calling the room 'The Council Chamber', but disabled access legislation sent the town council down again, whinging continually.
The dais or "historical carpentry on which the mayor sat to reside" was later than 1956, and the furniture was thrown out in 1989 when I bought all the curved tables for a song because no one else wanted them.
Does it matter where the town council sits? Their major topic, and expense, is themselves.
Consider the Rolls-Royce fiasco which brought the town into disrepute, the mayor's repetitive self-satisfied 'musing', and the amount of your money they spend on themselves and their administration.
This increased by "only 2 per cent" this year, while everyone else is cutting back (study the accounts).
Their "millennium trees" planted on the registered green suffered neglect and vandalism, and their predecessors had visibly altered the boundary, and destroyed eleven mature lime trees for the car park which they sold to Waitrose.
Is it time to revive the 30-year-old campaign to abolish the expensive town council and concentrate more on the sins of the unitary authority?
And let's have a genuine history of Chippenham.
Kirstie Buckland
(Monmouth)
Tree planting is right
SIR,
As a 'true Monmothian', I compliment Mr A V Smith for his dignified letter in response to Colin Rodgers' reply.
I thoroughly agree with the tree planting on the village green, which will enhance the look of the area and also encourage more wildlife.
I was appaled at Colin Rodgers' remarks, he portrays a spiteful and malicious person who tries to gain power and an air of authority by using bullying tactics through his letter writing aimed at well-meaning people.
Colin Rodgers first came to Monmouth from Manchester in the 1960s to work on the A40 dual carriageway.
He finished before the work was completed, and started work for Jack Roocroft as a fencing contractor.
Perhaps Colin Rodgers should take his criticism back home to Manchester if he is not happy living in Monmouth.
Jen Hudson
(Monmouth)
Thanks for opening doors
SIR,
May I, through you, thank all those involved in the recent European Open Doors event for their hard work and conscientious pre-planning.
It was extremely well organised and – a bonus – entry was free.
People at the various locations gave their time and gladly shared their knowledge and enthusiasm with visitors.
Even we locals learnt a few new facts.
A successful event and thanks to everyone involved.
J Allin
(Monmouth)