Road closure causing drop in trade (From Free Press Series)

Road closure causing drop in trade

ABERGAVENNY traders met local councillors last Friday following a series of protests against the closure of Cross Street.

The town council invited Councillor Giles Howard and representatives of the local traders protesting against the closure of the street between 11am and 4pm six days a week, to meet and discuss the issue.

A report from the meeting will be discussed by the town council at their monthly meeting tonight (Wed).

The traders say they have seen about a 30 percent fall in business since Monmouthshire County Council decided to close the road to traffic.

On two days last week more than 30 traders gathered at the Cross Street barrier to protest against its closure and succeeded in delaying council workers shutting the street.

Local pub landlord Ken Watkins is on the committee of the action group Protest Against Closure of Cross Street. He said: "We are willing to carry on with these protests for as long as it takes for the council to see sense."

Councillor Giles Howard, cabinet member for highways, said: "If the traders can produce evidence that the road closure has damaged their business then of course I will recommend that we rescind the scheme."

Monmouthshire county council cabinet are due to meet on April 7 to discuss whether to continue the road closure scheme on a permanent basis.