SIR,

My son uses The Burgage as a short cut to school.

As a parent, I am very worried about the proposed development of Dixton Clinic with access through The Burgage.

There are currently about 500 school children who use the pedestrian access from the Dixton Road that leads into The Burgage, as well as the residents of The Burgage and Old Dixton Road, who will be affected by this new development.

As far as I am aware, there has been little contact between Monmouthshire County Council (MCC), the developer and the local residents. We have now been given the development as a 'fait accompli' with no discussion.

By contrast Lovells, who are developing The Burgage almshouses, have shown us the plans twice, consulted us at every turn and listened to us.

The problem is not the actual development on the site, but the access through The Burgage.

I understand that, allegedly, it is the developer who is so keen to keep access to the site through this tiny road. If this is true, what is MCC doing about it? Why can't the development have access via Dixton Road?

And what about the accident waiting to happen with all the extra traffic in The Burgage?

Come on MCC, have the courage to arrange a meeting with the developer, to talk to the residents. Let's get this out into the open.

If the development goes ahead with access through The Burgage, it's the residents who will suffer for ever more, and the council members and developer who will get away with it.

What happened to good old fashioned thoughtfulness and care for others?

G Peace

(Monmouth)