I read with interest your front page headline ‘New village signs cheap and tacky’ and then with amusement the angry comments in the letters responding to the original anonymous letter of 25/01/23.

The signs are deemed ‘disgusting eyesores ....lurid ....hideous ....and even Asda - like’!

Some suggested a conspiracy as the signs appeared from nowhere with no public consultation.

Not so, apparently, as the signs were installed by MCC as part of the Wye Valley Villages Improvement Plan which was indeed publicised on line and in hard copy.

With the community councils involved throughout, including the design phase and the 3,700 views and over 250 written responses received, there was clearly consultation and public engagement.

So perhaps Waitrose or Barbour - styled signage would appease these people?

No, I suspect not as the REAL reason for the outrage was signalled in the original anonymous January letter but which the Beacon chose not to include in it’s summary last week.

The original complainant ranted along the lines of ‘people now having to get past the Welsh first’ on the signs.

Isn’t this the real objection of many, that the signs conform to Welsh Government approved Welsh spelling of all our settlements in Wales?

We all know there is a widely held antipathy/hostility towards the Welsh language and culture in this part of Monmouthshire and I suspect the aesthetics of the signs are just a smokescreen for the bigoted attitude of some of these people.

Many people want to protect and restore our unique cultural heritage and language which continues to be eroded.

Many enlightened citizens, whether born in Wales or not, are empathetic to this aim.

Others, clearly are not.

Just be honest about it.

Peter Williams

Trefynwy (look it up)