MADAM,

It is not my habit to have recourse to the press but, on this occasion, I believe the community of Monmouth should be made aware of the cavalier approach the town council are taking to the welfare of very young people of the town.

There is a sum of £85K available from a levy on developers to be spent on playground facilities. Since the present site is tucked into a corner of the recreation area, adjacent to the very busy A40 road, any reasonably minded person might think that this is the ideal time to move it from the very noisy and heavily air polluted position to one more suited to modern day needs; an area where parents can keep an adequate watch on their offspring. The existing facility was provided, I think, in the 1960s for the population of that time. Clearly, by modern standards, it is totally inadequate for the present population.

I attended the planning meeting of the town council hoping I would be able to engage in an intelligent debate about the issues and, along with other members of the public, be able to make helpful suggestions for the councillors to make the right decision on behalf of the citizens of Monmouth. Oh dear, why did I bother! Intelligent debate it was not. The chairman delivered a breakneck speed position report which was hard to decipher and there was almost no debate amongst the councillors. So much for democracy and working for the community!

When I, and others, made mention of the dire situation on air pollution, at the site, being near the maximum recommended figure by the government and many other institutions, a councillor attempted to rubbish our comments by telling us that the levels did not exceed the maximum! Madam, you miss the point entirely; since it is already almost at the maximum, your duty to the young people is to find a venue where it is much nearer the minimum!

There are numerous studies by such august bodies as: the Parliamentary Environmental Audit Committee, European Respiratory Society, Royal College of Paediatricians, National Heart and Lung Institute, and others, who will confirm that the high level of, mainly, diesel pollutants from the A40, are extremely hazardous to young people through respiratory problems and can also affect their ability to learn. Reports also mention the higher risk of miscarriages and birth defects. The problem with pollution is going to get worse, not better, with the increase of vehicles on the road and, following the completion of the dualling of the A465 from Bryn Mawr, an increase of heavy vehicles from west Wales to the midlands passing through Monmouth.

Your town council are, following a vote of 10 for and five against with one abstention, prepared to stay with the status quo, with all its known hazards, and recommend to the county council refurbishment of the present site. So much for enlightened government and caring for the community!

A V Matthews

(Monmouth)