MONMOUTH AM Nick Ramsay says he is "a bit puzzled" after being criticised by a pressure group for apparently refusing to meet them at the Welsh Assembly.

KALM have written a letter to the Chronicle's Postbag this week describing their hand-over of more than 5,000 signatures appealing against the Cattle Market development.

They claim that Nick Ramsay, Monmouth AM was not there to meet them to take the petitions and letters.

Mr Ramsay says, "I am a bit puzzled because I only met with KALM a few weeks ago. We had an excellent meeting which last an hour-and-a-half and we talked about all the major issues. I pointed KALM in the direction of the Welsh Assembly's Petition Committee, I told them I can't receive petitions, the Assembly receives them as a whole.

"I am pleased they have now handed the petitions in but they should have had a message from reception to leave them. I'm sorry they didn't get a message to do that and I'll look into the break down of communication.

"I am quite busy as an AM and cannot always be at every meeting. I am very pleased to receive the letters and I will do what I can to respond to as many as possible and to try and see why people feel like this and how we can progress."

KALM told the Chronicle that 5,270 letters signed by Abergavenny shoppers and local residents, together with 303 from local farmers were delivered to the Welsh Assembly on Wednesday, May 13 by a small group.