CHURCH Street traders are frustrated with the scaffolding that is making the once vibrant shopping quarter look shut off with no sign of workmen or progress with the repairs to the buildings,

Cllr Martin Newell said that he was confident that after being part of a meeting in October with the management team looking after the repairs of 10 Church Street, the former fruit and veg shop, that things were in order “and we would start to see significant progress by now but sadly this has not happened. I was also looking forward to the scaffolding on The Nationwide premises coming down soon but again there seems to be a lack of activity at this stage.”

One of the traders, Ben Price who co-runs Creates Restaurant told the Beacon that they have been left feeling completely forgotten, “with little to no meaningful support while our businesses suffer.

“The scaffolding makes the street look closed, and as a result, footfall has dropped dramatically. The impact on local traders has been devastating,” he said.

“If something doesn’t change soon, there may be nothing left of Monmouth’s independent shops”.

The pair composed an email to MCC’s planning department and to Dan Fordham, MCC’s officer in charge of regeneration.

“He has invited me to a meeting to discuss MCCs role moving forward and what powers they have to expedite works,” said Cllr Newell.

A meeting for traders and business groups has been arranged for June 1 where it is hoped a plan and timescale can be agreed to resolve the problem.

Ben Price added: “Local businesses urgently need support — whether that’s direct financial help, business rate relief, or practical measures to offset the huge loss in footfall caused by the ongoing works.

He urged shoppers to “walk past the scaffolding, support your local independent shops before it’s too late.”