ROB HUGHES (letter in Postbag - August 7) stated that a

mere 0.5 percent of the population of the Abergavenny

area was represented at the public meeting about the two

design schemes for the cattle market redevelopment.

If the population totals about 14,000 (several recent

correspondents have mentioned this figure) this would

obviously not consist entirely of adults of voting age. So

this meeting could conceivable have seen one percent or

more of the population represented - not exactly a

majority.

Using the same benchmark for the number of people

completing questionnaires at public venues and on the

internet, a total of 263 respondents would mean that

about 3.7percent of this area's population participated in

the process. Again, this is not overwhelmingly

representative of the people of the area.

However, most people I speak to seem keen to have the

matter resolved and a decision made. Some appear to

favour redevelopment, a few would rather leave matters at

they are.

Although many I have spoken to have strong views on how

best to proceed, very few had scrutinized the two designs

put forward by MCC and virtually none had completed the

questionnaire.

Why then, do such people not get involved in the process,

leaving the matter to those who can be bothered to attend

meetings or take the time and trouble to view the

schemes at the well advertised public sites or visit the

computer link at the library or even boot up their personal

computer and air their preferences?

Are the majority of the members of the public just

apathetic about the cattle market redevelopment plans? I

apologise for not offering answers, merely posing

questions. Perhaps somebody wiser than me can offer

some sensible reasons for this apparent state of affairs?