Laudable is the praise for the persons who have tidied and cared for the area adjacent to the Monnow Bridge (Praise for council staff as champions to tidy Wyebridge, Beacon 4th September).

However if Ms Pearce had walked further to St Thomas’ Church she would have seen the devastation wrought by the same council workers she praises. I witnessed these workers hacking the shrubs down to a couple of feet high, leaving hideous chopped off stumps. Planted there is a winter flowering viburnum, which I have yet to see fully in blossom because of the council workers’ interference.

Likewise bordering the path from the dual carriageway to the tennis courts is a viburnum opulus (guelder rose) which I have yet to see in flower. Naturally have there been no berries, which the birds love.

Peter Morgan (Monmouth)