SIR,

Yesterday I walked a delightful cross-country route from Trellech to Raglan through the wonderful landscape of Monmouthshire.

The high point came after passing through New Trecastle farm and reaching the minor road south of Pen y Clawdd, there to be confronted by one of the most spectacular panoramic views to be seen anywhere in Wales.

My heart sang as I gazed out across the scene before me, stretching from Garway Hill to the Skirrid and the Sugarloaf with their Black Mountain backdrop and with the beautiful rolling countryside of Monmouthshire in the foreground. Buzzards were circling in the summer thermals and life seemed so good.

It was then that I noticed a small planning application notice for a 152-foot high wind turbine to be erected on this idyllic site. My heart sank. A turbine this high at this location could be seen for many miles and the view from there utterly scarred. I returned home to look up the planning details and was appalled. It beggars belief that anyone could be so crass and insensitive to be prepared to despoil this perfect place for relatively small private financial gain

I was further dismayed to see that the Country Landowners Asociation supported this despoliation. Have they no poetry in their black hearts?

Surely we have not become so desperate for green energy that we can allow this ruinous development.

Mr AJ Thomas

(Chepstow)