MADAM,

On visiting a busy Abergavenny last Saturday, I noticed yet more high quality street paving work to continue the conversion of Frogmore Street to pedestrian priority. Together with St Johns Square and the outdoor market area, the investment by the County Council and others to virtually the whole of the centre of Abergavenny now totals well over £2 million.

Meanwhile Monmouth’s Blestium Street, Monnow Street and Agincourt Square fester as outdated, grim, poor quality environments at the very time when high streets are struggling to attract custom in competition with out-of-town stores.

Improvement proposals for Monmouth were first put to the County Council 10 years ago (yes, 10 years). Nearly two years ago, Monmouth community groups, including Monmouth 2020Vision, put detailed proposals to MCC. The last meeting of MCC with community groups was eight months ago. Even the Town Council put proposals to the County four months ago.

The result of all this? Silence and no delivery.

When is the County Council going to deliver for Monmouth beyond occasional stretches of cheap-looking black tarmac here and there?

David Farnsworth

(Trellech)