A SCHEME to tame and tidy an overgrown area of Monmouth appears to have destroyed much of its historical archaeology.

The Tidy Towns initiative sought to remove debris from the remains of the Clawdd Du defensive ditch that dates from Norman times and runs around today's Overmonnow community.

But the site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and Monmouthshire County Council failed to gain the necessary permission from CADW, the Welsh heritage body, to dig in the ditch.

And now Stephen Clarke, chairman of Monmouth Archaeological Society said that historical evidence could be lost forever as previous examinations had found that this layer was so thin.

Mr Clarke added: "It seems the council deliberately chose a Sunday to excavate a trench that cuts through the thin archaeological levels into the underlying natural shales as nobody in authority would be around to stop the work.

"It is not the first time this strategy has been used because Kwik Save's listed building in Monmouth's Monnow Street was also demolished on a Sunday.

"I am absolutely appalled by the council's action. I cannot understand what they are thinking of as they know this is a scheduled monument.

"This trench is a couple of feet deep and stretches for almost a quarter of a mile and it's done irreparable damage to this important historic site."

Mr Clarke has called for an inquiry to be undertaken by CADW adding: "Everyone knows if you take a metal detector into the Clawdd Du ditch or start digging it up you'll end up in jail, so why should it be any different for the council?"

"If the council is found to have broken the law then they should be prosecuted for criminal damage under Ancient Monument legislation," he added.

"Just like the Kwick Save incident, it looks as this has been done without any planning consent being in place."

Councillor Sue Chivers said that Monmouth Town Council's environment committee were given a presentation in June and informed that the organisation would

be creating ponds in the ditch to encourage

biodiversity.

But Cllr Chivers told the speaker said they cannot do anything in the ditch without the proper permissions being in place.

 "I just cannot believe the authority can be so crass as to go ahead with something which it was told would be against the law."

CADW has halted the work and is now carrying out a more detailed assessment of the impact of the works on archaeology.

Rick Longford, Monmouthshire council's

economic development manager said: "We place a high value on Monmouthshire's antiquities and we have been working for some time to remove fly tipping and waste thrown into the ditch.

"The intention is to look at the site within the ethos of the Tidy Towns initiative and develop a community-based project which will not only clean up the area but also assist in the reduction of dumping at the site in the future.

"A shallow watercourse had been excavated as part of the approach, and due to a regrettable oversight, the necessary consent from CADW had not been obtained.

"We are now working closely with CADW to resolve any issues relating to the works, to reduce future fly tipping and develop a scheme to enable the local community to look after the site in the future."