David Davies, Conservative Member of Parliament for Monmouth, today submitted his formal objection to plans to construct further housing around Rockfield Road in Monmouth.
Speaking from Monmouth today, David said, “As a resident of Monmouth and as the Member of Parliament I feel strongly that these about these proposals and am registering my opposition to create even more housing in the Rockfield Road area. There are three issues which I see as being central to this debate and I have set these out clearly in my letter to the County Council.
“Firstly, an inarguable side effect of new housing will be an increase in the volume of traffic in the area. Having visited the vicinity on several occasions I am well aware that this is a place where children feel safe playing in the streets. However, with a hefty rise in traffic, I fear this will no longer be the case. This was not the situation that current residents envisaged when they moved to the area with young families.
“Secondly, the field around Rockfield Road is a natural soakaway which absorbs excess rainwater which falls during the winter months. Despite al the assurances about flood defences which were given by the developers when the current Rockfield site was developed a few houses have already flooded. I fear that any further development will drastically increase the risk, both to the new houses and to those already used as family residences.
“Thirdly, no one who has lived in the area for over a decade will disagree that we have seen a substantial rise in the number of properties in Monmouth in the past ten years. There is a substantial and legitimate worry that further development will irrevocably alter the atmosphere and standing of what once was a sleepy market town. Monmouth is not a large metropolis and nor should it be. If this development goes ahead then who is to say that the next field will not be ear-marked for development, then the next, then the next right up to The Hendre.
“It is time that we put a stop, for the moment at least, to this rampant desire for new properties and allow Monmouth to function as it is.