I am a passionate advocate for the preservation of local culture and nature, having a personal connection with The Gwent Levels. This beautifully historic area is under threat from proposed developments that could see it lost forever. Monmouthshire County Council has put forward plans to build 770 houses on The Gwent Levels, a region of national importance for its outstanding landscapes and biodiversity, situated to the East of Caldicot and North of Portskewett. This development prioritizes hitting housing targets over the vital preservation of our local heritage and agricultural livelihoods.

Generations of local farmers have tirelessly worked this land, maintaining traditions deeply embedded within our community. This development plan threatens to push them out, destroying jobs and the fabric of our society. By signing this petition, you actively take a stand against this senseless destruction. STAND BY OUR FARMERS.

There are so many reasons NOT TO BUILD here:-

Ancient Woodlands - Grade II listed House - Protected Hedgerows - Over 200 species of insects/invertabrates, plus birds, plants and other wildlife.

PRIORITY SPECIES - the Shrill Carder Bee and Brown Banded Carder Bees both call this place home (there are only a few sites these can be found in the UK) - these are considered rare and should be PROTECTED under Section 7.

This is high risk area for flooding - Nedern Brook Wetlands has been a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) since 1988 - a site of regional importance for a variety of birds.

THE LIST GOES ON AND ON

Let us not allow our natural heritage to be swept away in the tide of development. Sign this petition to urge Monmouthshire County Council to consider alternative locations for housing that do not involve destroying The Gwent Levels.

The Welsh Government, Portskewett Community Council, County Councillor Lisa Dymock, Gwent Wildlife, Bumblebee Conservation, Portskewett and Caldicot current residents and many many more - OBJECT TO THIS PROPOSAL - PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME TO THIS LIST.

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION TO ENSURE THAT MONMOUTHSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL CANNOT BUILD ANYTHING ON THE GWENT LEVELS NOW AND IN THE FUTURE. WE CANNOT LET THEM DESTROY THE HABITAT OF MANY PLANTS, INSECTS, INVERTEBRAES AND ANIMALS.

“The Gwent Levels is Wales’ equivalent of the Amazon rainforest for sheer diversity of wildlife."
 - The Wildlife Trusts

If they are allowed to do this, they will continue to destroy the whole of The GWENT LEVELS, yet they say they want to attract tourists – who wants to look at another concrete jungle?  This will push tourists away from this AONB! They say they want to promote jobs in the area – what by closing down one thriving business by buying their land - to open a small industrial estate up the road! They say they want to ‘protect our landscapes and heritage’ – how is this doing that? How is this going to ‘safeguard and enhance Monmouthshire’s unique environment’? How is this going to ‘protect, enhance and manage resilience of Monmouthshire’s natural environment. Biodiversity and ecosystems’? How is this going to ‘support Health and Well-being’? These are their words!

Go to the website and learn more about The Gwent Levels and it's beauty - https://www.livinglevels.org.uk/

or

https://gwentlevels.org.uk/

SIGN, SIGN, SIGN – we only have until the 19th December to submit this petition to Monmouthshire County Council.

Feel free to also send an OBJECTION EMAIL to planningpolicy@monmouthshire.gov.uk - reference RLDP Land to the East of Caldicot/North of Portskewett - before 16th December 2024

PLEASE SHARE THIS PETITION WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW - NO MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE - WE ALL NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO PRESERVE OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY