Sir,

Like many in my neighbourhood I feel obliged to write a letter to someone, anyone, to complain about the lunacy contained in the latest plans for expanding Monmouth.

It doesn't take a genius of town planning to work out who stands to benefit from 800 or more new houses being dumped onto local flood plains but in case you are in any doubt reader, it probably won't be you.

If you are the landowner or a shareholder in the construction company you may have cause to reach for the champagne.

If you are a jobsworth in the council who needs to tick a box in order to justify your existence then you may enjoy the prospect also.

But for the rest of us council tax-paying mugs there is nothing to look forward to except gridlocked roads, overflowing schools, packed doctors surgeries and brimming supermarkets, not to mention the further erosion of our priceless countryside.

These ills are inflicted upon us by a government supposedly answerable to the people but who in reality seem answerable to no-one.

So why does Wales need all these new houses?

The answer is simple; Even with 2.5 million unemployed and jobs at a premium the UK government still waves an extra 250,000 people through our ports each year (that's a new Cardiff every 16 months folks).

One is tempted to question the sanity of those in charge but those poor souls are bound by the EU treaties our government signed years ago that demanded we relinquished control of our borders.

No doubt they dreamed of a continent of freely moving workers but as it turns out the traffic is all one way.

The human rights act (another barmy EU requirement) also means it is virtually impossible to deport someone even if they are here illegally, commit a crime or are unemployed.

So rather than take the difficult but necessary steps to reduce population growth and introduce some sovereignty back into our border controls our leaders have decided it is more expedient to pave over what's left of the British countryside. Short term thinking at its worst.

So some people in authority want to turn Monmouth into Newport North? In the coming local elections I would urge everyone to look beyond narrow party loyalty and examine each candidates policies on this important issue.

Putting your X somewhere else is the only language they understand. The future of this lovely town is in your hands.

Gareth Dunn

(Monmouth)