SIR,

Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls (HMSG) would like to respond to the letters in last week's Beacon about the planning application to extend car parking on the school site.

Firstly, the application submitted in December has indeed been amended to retain more of the gardens of numbers 1 and 3. This has been agreed in consultation with the immediate neighbours, who have sent letters of support to Monmouthshire County Council.

There are 39 spaces in the existing car park and the original application was for an additional 31 parking spaces; the amended application has reduced the number of additional spaces to 20. The revised application also includes improved landscaping along the entire boundary to provide better screening to The Gardens.

We would also like to correct Mr Dalby Williams. The school submitted a planning application (number M/9741) to build the existing car park in February 2004 and permission was granted on the 8th April 2004.

We are anxious to ensure we provide adequate parking spaces on site to reduce the numbers of cars parking on the Hereford Road. Our site extends to 35 acres and we have employed external consultants to consider carefully the long term strategic development of the site within the context of adjoining properties.

As part of this review, the consultants identified the area near the entrance as the safest and least intrusive place for additional car parking.

HMSG greatly values the relationship with its neighbours and makes a huge contribution to the local community; not just in terms of employment but also through opening access to its facilities for local use, including the swimming pool, astro-turf, pitches and theatre for local productions and fundraising events.

Tessa Norgrove

(Bursar, Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls)