Sir,
The planning application by Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls (HMSG) to replace mature and beautiful gardens in a residential area of Monmouth with an extended car park has been condemned by local residents and by Monmouth Town Council.
The environmental reasons against such a development and its potential to degrade and devalue the area through change of use are obvious and logical.
Regrettably, one has to question the purpose of the county council's Unitary Development Plan.
Whatever its guidelines may be, it surely do not absolve the county planning committee from its duty to exercise due diligence in interpreting the plan in a manner that balances the needs of the local community against those of powerful corporate bodies like the Haberdashers company.
The town council and individuals, including Philip Bly, Councillor Jeanna Hall and Cllr Bob Hayward, have highlighted the dangers of creeping development by HMSG into residential land outside its traditional boundary and they have expressed their views at County Hall.
We should be grateful to them for speaking out against this inconsiderate planning application and for questioning the apparent reluctance of the planning committee to accept, almost without question, the attempt by HMSG to wheedle its way around traditional planning safeguards.
Perhaps when the Planning Committee makes its site visit to The Gardens on the morning of Friday 10th June, it will have the foresight to appreciate the detrimental consequences of HMSG's proposal.
Frankly, I doubt this will happen, as it would challenge the sacred guidelines of the Unitary Development Plan.
John Dalby-Williams
(Monmouth)