Monmouth Chamber of Commerce has been working with the local authorities to help prepare the town to cope with the pressures brought on by the global pandemic.

In a statement members say this has been a testing time for businesses throughout the country and Monmouth has been no exception.

At the beginning of the year, severe flooding made the town largely inaccessible from outlying areas, for several days which, of course, impacted greatly on trade – especially retail.

No sooner had business started to recover slightly than the deadly pandemic forced lockdown and across the UK towns and cities became deserted.

Whilst food purveyors found imaginative ways to supply their customers with essential requirements, and therefore manged to keep busy, most shops were obliged to close their doors, furlough or lay off staff.

Offices, factories and workshops also abruptly stopped their activities as we were all instructed to Stay Home and Stay Safe.

During this period, Monmouth Chamber of Commerce’s small committee worked tirelessly to find ways of mitigating hardship.

The Chair, Sherren McCabe-Finlayson, participated in weekly TEAM meetings with officers of Monmouthshire County Council and the Welsh Assembly.

She was kept up to date with the very latest government directives and information on financial assistance as it was being made available.

Chamber members were instantly made aware of grants and other means by which they might be helped to ride the storm.

On a weekly, sometimes daily basis, new legislations were being introduced and it was vital to get detail out quickly to all those affected.

Nobody could predict how long measures would be applied so planning was difficult, but the Chamber progressed its Shop Local campaign to remind us all of the need to support our businesses through this unprecedented, dark time.

Meanwhile, the responsibility of Monmouth Chamber of Commerce is to continue supporting ALL our businesses – retail, trade and professional – as it has done for decades: next year it will celebrate its centenary.

The changes introduced in Monnow Street have been recognised by both the Chamber and MCC as being controversial but both organisations stress that they welcome the views of local residents and if changes are necessary they will be implemented.

The enlarged pedestrian areas had to be introduced to allow social distancing rules to be followed and the cafe culture which allows businesses to put tables and chairs outside their premises means again the social distancing rules can be applied safey.

All the changes are part of the trial of the new rules which were put in place in order to help local businesses thrive and prosper again - with the support of the local community.

As reported on page one residenrs can make their feelings known by contacting MCC via its website or get in touch with members of the Chamber.

Sherren McCabe-Finlayson

Chair, Monmouth Chamber of Commerce