IR,

As you may  be aware, there is a planning application under consideration to convert the Abbey Hotel in Tintern – right opposite the abbey – into housing, via partial demolition.

Amazingly, despite being so close to the abbey, it is not listed or in other ways protected, as might have been expected of a site in such a key position.

It is within the former abbey precinct. At the southern entrance to Tintern, on the main road, it commands the best local views across the abbey complex as a whole, and is the first thing visitors from the south experience on their arrival at the village.

So, not only is it an archaeological/ historic site, but the views from the hotel are both famous and unique – some of the finest in the country.

If it were to be turned into private housing, not only would it change the appearance of the abbey's environs and the 'gateway to Tintern', but it would restrict right of access to this extraordinary viewpoint over the complex as a whole.

A 38Degrees petition has been set up to try and stop this development. Thanks to the (211 so far) people who have already signed it – if you haven't yet, do please use this link and sign the petition to try and stop this desecration in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

For those concerned to preserve their anonymity, you may like to know that your details will not be displayed in any detail beyond the format of names currently visible on the petition site, i.e. a forename and the initial letter of a surname, and even in this format only the last nine signatories are visible.

If you'd like to write in to Monmouthshire County Council as well, that would help even more.

The details of the application are at  http://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/planning">www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/planning planning application no. DC/2012/00620;  write to the planning officer Nia Morrison, [email protected]">[email protected].

The postal address is

Nia Morrison,

Monmouth County Council,

Planning Section,

New Market Hall,

Priory St,

Monmouth

NP25 3XA.

Fiona Frank

(Tintern)