NEARLY 600 residents have viewed proposed linkage plans between Asda and Caldicot town centre at a public consultation this week.

Representatives from the Caldicot Town Team and Monmouthshire council were on hand at a pop- up shop on Newport Road for a two-day public consultation.

The plans include the redesigning of Waitrose car park to incorporate a one way system and extending the original entrance at the top of Woodstock Way to allow an in/out system and to extend the pedestrianised area outside the library and One Stop Shop.

Under the scheme, the service road near the library will be joined to the new pavement and pedestrianised area and will only be accessible by service vehicles. Better lighting, street scene enhancements and new signage will also be installed.

The scheme had been put on hold until after Christmas, following concerns from retailers that major distribution would provide a barrier between Asda and the town centre.

Aaron Reeks, a director of Caldicot Town Team, said there had been a positive reaction to the public consultation.

He said: “The consultation has been very successful – we saw around 200 people on Monday and over the two days saw nearly 600 people.

“The general view has been quite positive from both traders and members of the public.

“There were some concerns raised on articulated lorries reversing on the service road which is something we need to look into. There were also concerns raised for the residential access as there are residential properties behind there.”

He added: “Hopefully the plan will be improved upon in the next couple of months and fingers crossed contractors can start in early February.”

Helen Beveridge, owner of the Fudge Fairy’s Sweet Shop, said: “In my opinion the plans don’t go far enough.

“More needs to change to revitalise the town but it’s a good start in the right direction.

“It is a pity that it wasn’t in place for the Asda opening but on the other hand I don’t know how much of an effect that would have had.

“The visual aspect from Asda needs to be bigger as the shops are obscured.”