SIR,

I am incandescent at Councillor Bob Hayward's statement (Beacon 20th November) in relation to the proposed new development.

He states if McDonald's, Costa, Marsdens, were sited in the town they would be welcomed (not all he says) by the majority.

Just exactly where does he get his majority from? Did he conduct a survey of people's opinions? I think not. How arrogant of him to suggest a majority.

For me, one of the delights of Monmouth is its ability not to look like a clone of so many towns.

You can travel across the country and see almost every other town with its familiar chain of shops, while themselves are fine, but Monmouth has a unique quality about it, which would surely be lost by the addition of Cllr Haywood's majority.

May I suggest he looks to the people he represents for their opinion?

Barbara Johns

(Monmouth)