SIR On the face of it, building a Co-op convenience store on Rockfield Road, as seen in last week's Beacon, seems like a reasonable idea. As reported, the store has 700 houses on the Rockfield Estate and 250 on the Brook Estate nearby, and will apparently have no detrimental affect on the area. Apart that is from the obvious issues of additional congestion near an already busy roundabout, as well as spoiling the look of the area. Granted, the abandoned bungalow and poultry sheds are not particularly attractive to look at, but they're more in keeping with a rural area than a brand new convenience store (although at least the Co-op's branding is mainly green). But is there more to it? Is the Co-op seizing the opportunity to build the store in the hope that Taylor Wimpey's plan to build 300 plus houses on the land adjacent to the poultry sheds is approved? In 2011, Taylor Wimpey submitted plans to build more than 300 homes on land off Rockfield Road. These plans were rejected by the County Council and not included in the Local Development Plan for 2011-2021. But housing developers being what they are, Taylor Wimpey resubmitted the same plans for approval in 2013 and the County Council's Planning Committee has yet to make its decision. Undoubtedly we will be told that the plans to build the Co-op store are in no way connected to the possible construction of the homes nearby. I can't help feeling though that allowing the Co-op to build a convenience store which – let's be honest – isn't needed in a town the size of Monmouth, would be the first step in the transformation of one of the last, truly rural parts in the centre of Monmouth into a housing developers playground. They're not intending to build this store for our good, but for our money. And while the Co-op and Taylor Wimpey get richer, the natural beauty of Monmouth and the well-being of its residents gets poorer. Today a convenience store, tomorrow 300 plus homes. I urge the County Council's Planning Committee to refuse planning permission for this unnecessary convenience store. Dyfan Wyn Owen (Monmouth)