Sir,

I was glad to be invited to the debate on Radio Wales last Wednesday (1st June) on the removal of Llanoronwy and Croes Onen from the road signs, together with Professor Howell Wyn Owen, consultant to the Welsh Language Board, and Roy Nicholas of Llangattock Vibon Avel Community Council.

The outcome seems to be that the county council having, in good faith, named Rockfield with its original Welsh name as Llanoronwy in 2004, has now been bulldozed into removing this ancient Welsh place-name from all road signs on the basis that the name is not in common usage.

The same thing applied to Croes Onen, the perfectly acceptable name for Cross Ash.

Why on earth obliterate these two Welsh names when there is no proposal for an alternative?

As the nearby villages of Wonastow, Dingestow, Mitchell Troy, Newcastle and Skenfrith all have their historical Welsh names enshrined on the roadsigns, why should Saint Guoron be ousted?

He has just as much right to his ancient name as the rest and is well documented as the founder of Rockfield.

I have written to the Welsh Language Board on this matter.

In the meantime, whenever I see a sign for Rockfield village with its blank space underneath, where St Guoron's name once stood reminding us of our history and heritage, I will think of it as a monument to the pedantic political correctness of the Llangattock Vibon Avel Community Council.

David Hancocks (Monmouth)