MADAM,

Referring to Mr Armsrong’s mention of the kerbing in St John Street, (‘Where was the conservation officer?’ 10th August) I can assure him what he states is true. The ancient kerb was removed and dumped.

I have investigated the reason for their removal. I believe the assistant engineer of Monmouthshire County Council decided to remove and dump the stone kerbs without consulting the conservation office. He wrote that the old kerb was ’in poor condition,’ and that he used concrete ’in line with the rest of the scheme’. Once the stone kerbs were removed, he instructed the contractor to dump them and replace with concrete.

My investigations led me to the site where they were dumped. I have photographic evidence of stone kerbing fit to grace any street.

I live close to where those original kerb once lay, they were not unsafe. They were as rigid as the day they were put there, decades ago. The assistant engineer makes a mockery of the conservation status of this town.

Since when has an assistant engineer the authority to rid us of our heritage I ask? If I were to paint my door a vivid pink, the conservation officer would soon be knocking at my door because I live in a street within the conservation area, designated by Monmouthshire County Council!

Reinstate our stone kerbs, Mr Assistant Engineer of Monmouthshire County Council. We want them back, gracing our streets once again.

Helen Levy

Monmouth

THE decision to replace a short length of kerbstones on St John Street was made to ensure that the footway and kerb line were safe.

The poor kerb line was also having an effect on the level of the footway. The materials used to replace this section had been agreed by the council’s conservation officers.

The kerbstones were generally in a poor condition with some fractured while others were depressed into the ground. These were disposed of.

Any kerbstones in good condition were reused within the site for isolated repairs.

Monmouthshire County Council