I AM appalled at the decision of Torfaen Council to change place names in Torfaen from English into Welsh.

Before the language police smash my door down, let me explain. Pontypool can, according to Cadw, lay claim to be the birthplace of the Welsh Industrial Revolution, therefore the heritage should be carefully managed. This should not only be about buildings, but about names of places that recognise those who once lived and plied their trade there. One of the most significant of these is Griffithstown, named after the first station master of Pontypool and New Inn railway station, Henry Griffiths. He founded a co-operative building society for the construction of houses in the village for his workforce as owner-occupiers, rather than constructing terraces of housing for them to rent or buy on 99-year leases, as was the more usual practice in industrial South Wales. Do we really believe that these names that dignify our heritage should be changed out of political correctness? Or should this council concentrate on educating the 34 per cent of children who leave primary school unable to read or write to the appropriate level?

Ian Williams, UKIP Pontypool