SIR,

I've been following with interest the various views put forward in your letters page regarding the need for Welsh in Monmouthshire.

What a strange notion that Welsh should not be considered the national language of Wales. No doubt printing it onto paper obviously uses more printing ink and labour, if not more paper.

I'm sure it's difficult to calculate the price we pay to have all our paperwork written in two languages, maybe it is indeed quite affordable. Also, I can understand that a Welsh person living in Wales has every right to receive bills and notifications in Welsh, whether or not that person speaks English or any other language.

What I do find unnecessary in Monmouthshire and even potentially dangerous, is having road signs produced in Welsh as well as in English, especially if they're there to warn us of some unexpected danger ahead. It is very confusing and distracting to all non-Welsh speakers, and that's not just the English, but all the many visitors and tourists, too.

Nobody in this beautiful country of Wales is unable to understand an English road sign. Do let's keep Welsh alive, but not at any cost, not at the cost of common sense and common courtesy, not where road safety is concerned.

Going back to having road signs just in English would definitely cost the Monmouthshire taxpayer less each year. It's really nice of the county council to 'invite us to talk about our county's future amidst a backdrop of significant financial cuts' (Beacon of 2nd October).

To produce a road sign in Welsh costs more than twice as much as producing one in English, because of translation costs. This additional cost to the taxpayer is really not necessary, nor does it further the use of the Welsh language, or increase our love for it.

Until the Department for Transport agrees for the whole of the United Kingdom to have internationally-recognised symbols and standard units of measurements, as used on road signs in the rest of the world, could we please save considerable amounts of money in Monmouthshire by having, if not our paperwork, then at least our road signs just in English.

Mrs Evi Williams

(The Kymin)