I would like to make your readers aware that Monmouthshire County Council is currently consulting on a “Growth and Spatial Options” plan for building new houses in Monmouthshire. The consultation ends on 5th August.

Their report, of which I have only read the “Executive Summary”, proposes eight growth options and five spatial options – addressing the fundamental questions of how many new houses to allow and where to put them. Although population projections for Monmouthshire are of the order of 0 per cent growth – they are talking of “mid-range” options of 10 per cent growth and a developers paradise of 25 per cent growth. So if your readers don’t want to see the county built over and our market towns swamped, now is their opportunity to say so.

I must say, however, that the council has not made it easy. The executive summary can be found eventually on, wait for it: www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/app/uploads/2019/07/Executive-Summary-to-Growth-Options-Paper-1.pdf

To submit an opinion you have to register on their website – that has taken me at least half an hour, and I am not at all sure that it has worked.

My advice would be send the planning department an email directly and/or contact your county councillor to try and make sure that your voice is heard.

Ann Langford (Monmouth)