THOSE who remember High Trees, the grand Georgian house at the top of Steep Street in Chepstow as council offices, will be glad to see it at last under repair after years of neglect and total lack of maintenance by MCC. However, that these repairs are being carried out by a new owner after its sale at what appears to be a knockdown price raises several issues The county council can hardly claim to have carried out effectively its duty of public stewardship when it has allowed this listed building to deteriorate over many years to the point where the roof leaks, the window frames are rotten and the garden is completely overgrown.

Further, it can only follow that, as for other large gardens in this area, permission will soon follow for housing development in the garden and the former car park.

It seems to us that minimal maintenance to keep the building up to standard and taking steps to put it on the market as a package with permission to develop in the grounds would have meant much more benefit to the public purse in these straitened times than what is currently happening to this important and historic listed building.

Henry Hodges Secretary Chepstow Society