IT WAS reassuring and probably very significant to read in

the Chronicle (August 7) that 263 positive and supportive

responses were made to Monmouthshire County Council

in regard to the design proposals for the regeneration of

the cattle market in Abergavenny.

As we should all appreciate by now tastes in matters of

design always provoke conflicting points of view and it is

not uncommon for experts in any field or discipline to

disagree with each other.

Such people are only one step away from self appointed

armchair critics who give the impression of knowing

everything about everything.

For quite some time Abergavenny has been plagued by a

small group of generals and not enough foot soldiers who

spend too much time trying to manipulate their adopted

town in their preferred shape.

Much of their zeal depends on a ready chewed agenda

which they keep trying to force down the throats of the

silent local majority. This minority group makes speeches,

claps hands and constantly repeats a jaded mantra with

mind numbing regularity but nothing ever actually gets

done.

Meanwhile, other towns develop and prosper. With regard

to the recent public meeting of a modest 70 or so people

it may interest the FOE warrior to know that a friend of

mine was in attendance, equipped with a small portable

tape record which enabled me to listen to the same old

sermon being preached to the converted.

I listened to it in bed and it certainly helped to put me to

sleep. The tub thumping assumptions contained in his

Postbag rant last week were therefore not entirely correct

since I was made aware of the contents of the meeting.

One can always recognise when Mr Greenwood loses his

cool because much repetition takes place. My surname

appeared in his letter no fewer than 11 times. I hope he

will not feel disappointed if I choose not to emulate his

irksome style of delivery. It was most noticeable that our

FOE warrior failed to respond to virtually all the points

made in my letter of July 31, choosing instead to perform

yet another Houdini act.

We have a great rugby hero in Shane Williams but even his

side stepping ability is no match for the feather spitting

warrior.

For some reason or other the cut price specialist Aldi and

Lidl of Germany are not bombarded by the snooty,

snobbish attitudes directed towards Asda.

These two supermarkets, successful in their own way,

tend to be sited in socially deprived areas and are

frequently on the fringes of 'student land'

accommodation near universities and colleges. I mention

this solely to forewarn shoppers who apparently resent

being thought of as people who prefer to but cheap food.

However, for those who are attracted to cheap food there

would be unbounded appeal. As previously mentioned

Asda does not sell cheap food, it sells high quality food

cheaply, hence its success and popularity.

If the clock could be turned back we would all be able to

enjoy Maxwells, Ruthers, Liptons, Hughes, Evans, Davies,

Williams and a host of other food outlets which once

occupied the town and many varied service businesses

would cater for our other needs. Those who have come

here to live won't be able to recognise or conjure up

memories of when Abergavenny really did have a unique

character and environment. Times have changed and so

have the needs of the people. Further changes are

urgently needed to stop the town from declining yet

further.

The meddlers must be stopped from throwing and more

spanners in the works. It is their stalling tactics which

have already lost us a new cinema and their incessant

fault finding is impeding much needed improvements to

the town.