It is several months since safety fencing went up around the main entry gate to St Mary’s parish church. We now learn it may be many more months before repairs are done to stabilise an urn and the ugly fencing is removed.

Why is it taking so long to do what appears to be a fairly small job? The fence is a blight on one of the most beautiful corners of our town. It must seriously inconvenience weddings and funerals. Tourists will think that Monmouth just does not care how it looks.

Another reason to get on with the work is that the fence presents a barrier to mobility scooter users in Whitecross Street: they have to turn around and go all the way round by the traffic lights to get to Church Street.

The Church in Wales authorities must get on with these works as a matter of urgency.

Monmouth Civic Society