SIR,

I write in response to the letter printed in the 2nd January edition of the Monmouthshire Beacon headed 'Piles of mud stop children playing'.

'Monmouth Off Street Project' is a community group which was set up nearly three years ago with the aim to provide and develop opportunities for recreation for young people in the Drybridge/ Overmonnow area of Monmouth, such as skateboarding, BMX riding and other off-street activities.

More than 60 young people are involved, supported by adults including parents, the local county councillor, local businesses, various interested agencies and the local Neighbourhood Police.

Over this time the group have been fundraising and looking for a suitable site and have identified a piece of land off the Rockfield Road. The group are at present working with Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) and other agencies to obtain a lease on the land.

Proposals for the whole site are being looked into, which include a Skate Park, Pump Track and an additional long stay car park for Monmouth town.

A project group has been formed including representatives of MCC, Monmouth Town Council and MOSP, who are all looking into the feasibility of the above.

Once permission has been gained and draft plans have been drawn up, a community consultation will take place, which we hoped will be in the next few months.

The 'piles of mud' referred to are in fact topsoil which has been kindly placed there for the specific purpose of building a base for a BMX Pump Track, and was kindly donated to MOSP by a supporter of the project.

The soil was only available at a given time, and permission for this to happen was given by MCC.

Work on the first phase of the project cannot commence until the site has been secured by the Off Street Project, planning permission gained, and of course, funding obtained.

Shirley Hughes

(On behalf of Monmouth Off Street Project)