Sir,

The people who happily sign consent for 400 new houses in Overmonnow and 42 in Wyesham, on top of those already built, do not appear to have done much forward thinking. 442 houses will generate approximately 600 more cars and 1,200 more men, women and children.

On Saturday 8th December I planned to visit Momnouth Priory and the Methodist Church Christmas events.

After following a fleet of cars circling around Monmouth searching for a place to park, I gave up and went home. I am sure that some of the others did the same or moved on to somewhere else.

In the afternoon I went to Bridges Christmas Market. I turned into the entrance road but found that cars were parked all along one side. I had to brake sharply as two cars were backing out so that I had to back onto the main road and was greeted with much hooting of horns.

When I finally reached the badly designed car park, there were cars milling around trying to either get in or to get out. Bridges puts on some very good events and people will want to go to them so I am afraid the powers that be will have to grit their teeth and cut down the trees and tarmac over the grass so that we, and all the new people, can get in.

A walk along the river bank would be nice, especially for visitors, but the few parking spaces that are left are taken over by the school.

I used to be able to get an appointment with my GP for the next day or at least within two/ three days. Now it is a week to a fortnight.

Recently I went to 'sit and wait' and found it was bursting at the seams with standing room only.

After waiting for an hour or more I was granted a 10-minute consultation.

Having spoken to other people, this appears to be normal for both surgeries.

Now these surgeries will have to accommodate a further 1,200 people. Are there any plans for a new surgery, preferably in Overmonnow, so that these new people will not have to drive into town adding to the congestion?

Very little forward thinking took place when the pretty little Monnow Vale Hospital was built.

Anyone needing A&E will have to travel to Neville Hall, find a place to park and then wait three hours to be seen: as happened to me the last time I went, and if they have a frail elderly relative who needs hospital care there is no room at Monnow Vale, so they can look forward to a 36-mile round trip to visit them: we won't mention the parking again.

One last point: there are no jobs in Monmouth so these people will have to commute, adding more cars to the already congested roads around Monmouth.

Pauline Cass

(Monmouth)