I can’t help thinking that the petitioners opposing Monmouthshire County Council’s plan to build houses on the site in “north Portskewett”, more locally known as Crick, (Homes plan ‘threat to fabric of society’ – Argus, November 28) are being somewhat disingenuous.
They claim that their priority is to protect ‘the natural beauty’ of the Gwent Levels.
The term ‘Gwent Levels’ only refers to the low and mainly flat lands near the Severn Estuary, well south of the B4245. MCC’s Replacement Development Plan explicitly commits the council to protecting the Levels
The proposed site, north of the B4245, is about 15 metres above sea level and is more undulating, as confirmed by local place names such as Mount Ballan and Crownhill.
It is not in any real sense part of the Gwent Levels.
I am aware that the Living Levels Partnership include land further north but this is just a marketing ploy rather than a reflection of topographical reality.
If “north Portskewett” needed to be protected from development, this should have happened years ago – before the building of the Treetops estate north of the original village.
To this has already been added the new Elderwood Parc estate and Severn View Care Home.
Have the people living here ‘destroyed the fabric of society’ in Portskewett? I suggest not.
The petitioners complain of MCC prioritising ‘housing targets’.
Put this another way: the council is recognising that people need places to live and that there is an urgent need to build more homes for local people currently in housing need.
Those who object to new housing nearly always live in a decent house themselves – often one that other people objected to before it was built!
It is important to remember that these houses won’t all suddenly appear. It will take ten years or more. Facilities can develop over the course of time.
Peter Strong
MCC councillor
Rogiet Ward
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