SIR,
I pity the poor old Environment Agency.
They've been told about climate change, and the risks of flooding, and are enthusiastically leading the way to prepare us all for the inevitable.
Don your wellies, head for the high(est) ground in Monmouth, well away from the Monnow, see the biggest wellies in the world, and have a keyring, and a plastic bag.
Sorted. Bravo.
Meanwhile, down the street, where it floods for real, the Wonastow Brook and culverts are choked with rubbish, weeds, thick undergrowth and the assorted discarded flood signs, property of the Highway Agency, who haven't bothered to retrieve them since the last flood.
After all, it was only 6 months ago.
May as well leave it there. We'll be back.
Then there is the elephant up the road, which no-one wants to mention.
Monmouthshire County Council's contribution of their very own Personal Flood Plan, a five-star tarmacking over just about all the fields between Wonastow Road and Watery Lane, in direct opposition to their own commissioned Personal Flood Plan of 2003.
Namely, the Wonastow Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme, Engineering Feasibility Report, Atkins, August 2003, which warns directly of the dangers of flooding in this area of Monmouth.
At this point, it is worth asking just what has been the cost of purchasing all this land, whose bright idea was it, and what sort of value are we getting from the highly paid civic advice for this irresponsible and high risk strategy?
And, where is the, yes another, commissioned report into the flood risks attendant on this site and all related surface water flooding along Wonastow Brook and Watery Lane?
Floods, what floods? We have plans.
Michael Jones
(Monmouth)