Parking boost for town centre shoppers (From Free Press Series)

Parking boost for town centre shoppers

MONMOUTHSHIRE County Council plans to control the car park when the Abergavenny cattle market site is redeveloped with a foodstore, library and 31 flats.

This news will be greeted with delight by local people who were concerned that the foodstore company would not allow the car park to be used by shoppers who want to buy goods in the town centre as well as in the new foodstore.

Cllr Chris Woodhouse said: "I think it is wonderful and it is what we called for - a system that will stop encroachment like the addition of a garden centre and so on.

"The car park will prove to be a very good asset, and foodstores are subject to take-overs, so we need an element of control."

The council's head of planning George Ashworth said: "People in Abergavenny had expressed concern that we should not sell the area designated for car parking so we can control it.

"The advantage of this would be we could ensure it was available for people who want to shop in the town centre as well as the foodstore. It would also mean we can avoid queues onto the A40."

This was one of the conditions expected to be approved by the council's cabinet today (Wed).

Another condition is that the foodstore will not be able to trade until works are carried out to enhance Brewery Yard and to provide pedestrian links and crossing points along Lion Street and Market Street to Fairfield car park and Cibi Walk shopping precinct.

The council has already committed itself to spending £420,000 towards the town centre links from the site.

Out of the 25 interested companies who applied to redevelop the livestock market site, the council drew up a shortlist of just six.

Tesco are rumoured to be included in the final list as they are believed to have bought an option on the long lease for the site held by Abergavenny Auctioneers.