Newport East

Rogiet Countryside Park 11 June 2010

Letter sent to Cllr Peter Fox,Monmouthshire County Council,County Hall, CwmbranNP44 2XH 

Dear Peter, 

Over the last week I have been contacted by many constituents living in Rogiet about plans to develop a Travellers and Gypsy site on Rogiet Countryside Park. I know you too will have received representations directly, but I would like to convey to you the anger over the way this decision has been made. Like the residents of Rogiet and the Community Council, I was told nothing of these plans.  I would be grateful if you could confirm: 

Consultees

Please can you provide me with a list of consultees? The agenda item for Cabinet listed a number of consultees, who were apparently told 3 weeks prior to the meeting. However, it appears that key people and organisations were not privy to any information on this matter. For example, in addition to myself as MP, the local community council and local school have not been consulted. Moreover, it does appear there was a group of consultees and stakeholders who were aware of these plans last year, as on page 37, point 7.2, from the independent study undertaken by Roger Tym & Partners, states that “The assessment criteria have been agreed by Monmouthshire Council and broadly accepted by consultees and stakeholders contacted during the consultation stage.”  May I enquire who were the elected members consulted? Is it true that the Cabinet members admitted that they had not read the documentation before making the decision? 

Choice of options

Who chose the 4 options Roger studied by Tym & Partners and what criteria were used to pick them?Again, from the study by Roger Tym & Partners, 8.1, it states that “The site assessments have looked at four sites where it is considered that there is a    realistic potential to locate gypsies and travellers seeking accommodation in Monmouthshire. No other specific land has been put forward through either the consultation or by MCC.”  It is surprising that Monmouthshire has only realistically considered 4 sites, 3 of which are in the Rogiet and Caldicot area. It is inconceivable that in the whole of Monmouthshire 3 of the realistic sites are in one area of such a large county; it is even more surprising that you chose to limit the numbers of potential sites so early when you consider in Wiltshire they are looking at 49 potential sites across the whole county.

Use of the countryside park

The question also has to be asked whether this is an appropriate use of a country park which was created for the people of Rogiet with funds provided by the National Assembly.  It seems wrong to deprive the people of Rogiet of a much valued amenity. 

Continued Process

I would also be grateful if you could outline the process from now onwards, so all stakeholders can be fully informed in the future.  I look forward to your reply. 

Yours sincerely  

Jessica Morden MP