SIR,

I wish someone would open the debate about the shape of Monmouthshire today.

I was born in Monmouthshire – it's on my birth certificate – yet I find myself living in Torfaen, even though I've moved back to the address I was born at!

I feel no affinity with Torfaen whatsoever. I felt more affinity with Gwent, in fact. What is really galling is that no-one asked me if this is what I wanted – any more than I was asked if I wanted Monmouthshire/Gwent to be in Wales.

I grew up with the idea that Monmouthshire was English and had more connection to the south-west of England – Gloucestershire and Herefordshire – than Wales. I would argue this is still the case.

What is even more insulting is that I recently had a job where the Welsh speakers made us English speakers feel like second class citizens in the area where I was born. The policies in this area imposed by the Welsh Assembly Government have been divisive and expensive. It's time it stopped, and I don't want my council tax or national taxes paying for it.

Linda Joseph

(Cwmbran)