Landlady's fury at plans to move crossing (From Free Press Series)

Landlady's fury at plans to move crossing

USK licensee Geraldine Griffiths says she is defending her 600 year old pub from modern-day highwaymen.

She has launched a campaign to try to stop Monmouthshire County Council from placing a new puffin crossing outside the Cross Keys Inn in Bridge Street, Usk.

She said: "The crossing has risen like a phoenix from the ashes of 12 months ago when we thought we had stopped it.

"Now the highways department have announced work will begin on constructing this new crossing which will replace the zebra crossing which has served the town for years.

"This building is Grade 1 listed and we cannot do anything to desecrate it, yet they want to do this. The control panel bleeps and it will be placed right outside one of our four letting bedrooms.

"This coaching inn was built in 1368 and we own part of the pavement where we place floral displays, which are photographed by tourists from all over the world."

Ms Griffiths said the new crossing would hamper the wheelchair users who can now access the pub in safety. It could also leave no room for the bench they leave outside for elderly people.

She has started a petition in the town and already has hundreds of signatures from her customers and other local people.

Ms Griffiths and her partner Howard Peterson bought the building in May 2002 and have increased business ever since. She said: "I cannot see any good reason why the new crossing is needed.

"I have lived in the town for 40 years and know of only two accidents and they were more than a decade ago."

Monmouth AM David Davies has promised his support for the campaign. He called the scheme "municipal vandalism" and added: "The whole frontage of the building will be ruined by this crossing."

Steve Dudson, the council's principal engineer for traffic said they had been contacted by an elderly Usk resident expressing concern about the difficulty for elderly people using the zebra crossing to get to the post office.

He added: "We felt it was a sensible suggestion and it was agreed to convert it into a puffin crossing and move it down the street. This was agreed by the local member and Usk town council."

He said work will begin at the end of April.