SIR,

It is amazing that at long last Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) and Capita Symonds have come to the conclusion that we have a parking problem in Monmouth.

The people of Monmouth have been telling them this for years and, had they listened to us, they could have saved themselves time and money.

Having acknowledged the problem, what do they do but give permission for 400 houses to be built on a floodplain (no lesson learned from the Rockfield Road estate then) which means we will have at least another 400 cars, possibly 600 to 800, to deal with.

To cope with the heavy plant needed in the building of these houses, they have scarred the countryside by making a temporary road (and we must make sure it is temporary) across fields making an entrance onto a country road, which is not the widest of roads.

On the other side permission has been granted to build a bottling factory, so more traffic coming onto that road.

Then we have the fiasco of The Burgage and I think we can all envisage the chaotic traffic situation in that area.

And what about health and safety? Lets hope none of us need an ambulance or fire engine in a hurry.

Perhaps we should take to the streets like they have in Egypt to voice our displeasure, or better still send for Joanna Lumley and the Gurkas.

Joking aside, I have spoken to a good number of people and feelings range from anger to despair at what they're doing to our historic town.

Most people feel MCC just do not understand that Monmouth is a small market town that has an inadequate road infrastructure to cope with a large influx of vehicles and people.

I also assumed that when you became a councillor it was part of your duty to do the best for your community.

When I said this to a gentleman recently, he burst out laughing and said "no".

Sadly I think he may be right.

Margaret Stanger

(Monmouth)