Archive - Tuesday, 24 February 2004


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Vandals stir up row over road barriers

PROTESTERS in Abergavenny are distancing themselves from vandals who attacked the controversial barriers stopping traffic from using Cross Street.

A spokesman for Monmouthshire County Council confirmed that on Saturday the barrier had been chained and its lock superglued. CCTV footage will be examined in an effort to identify the perpetrators.

One protester, Ken Watkins, of the King's Head, said: "We don't advocate any damage to property. We are going to go through the proper channels."

Members of the action group PACOCS (Protest Against Closure of Cross Street) have taken advice about legal action against Cllr Giles Howard, the cabinet member for highways, on the basis the closure is affecting businesses.

Earlier this week he announced the closure of Cross Street to through traffic between 11am and 4pm would continue, despite a 1,200-signature petition from retailers.

More than 60 traders stopped the barriers being installed in the town centre on Friday morning in the first of many demonstrations they plan against the closure.

They say trade is down by as much as 50 percent on last year's figures. Neil McDonald, of Evesham Gardens, Llanfoist, who also trades in Abergave-nny indoor market, handed a letter from market traders to area services manager Tom James.

It asked for a reduction in traders' rent of 30 percent to compensate for the drop in business.

Mr Watkins said he was delighted with the turnout at the demonstration. He said: "We surrounded the barriers so the town hall staff could not unlock them to close the street at 11am.

"We were pleased that staff from the bank and building society were also there to support us."

He said many traders were warning their businesses could close if the downturn in business continued. They now plan to hand a letter to the Bryn y Cwm area committee when it meets next Wednesday in Govilon.

The decision to close the town centre to traffic for five hours every weekday originated from the area committee two years ago and a trial period was due to start last July.

This was delayed until December by a legal challenge from a handful of traders.

The council has always made it clear the closure is for an experimental period only, and can be halted at any time.