SIR,
I am writing in regard to the abandonment of the proposed pinch point trial at the top end of Monnow Street.
On hearing the news that the county council had changed its mind in deciding not to go ahead with this experiment, I was somewhat baffled to understand their reasoning.
Was the reason for this decision the result of a straw vote requested by officers from the county council's highways department at a public meeting that had been called to discuss the proposed changes in car park regulations?
There were approximately 40 people present, with a small majority in favour of not proceeding with the scheme.
This vote was in contrast to an earlier meeting organised by the Monmouth Partnership Forum when approximately 70 people came to watch a presentation explaining the complete scheme planned for Monnow Street, from the same officers who attended the car park meeting.
At the end of this meeting, a straw poll was also taken. Only three people voted against the proposed trial at the pinch point.
The pavements on either side of the top end of Monnow Street are totally unsuitable for pedestrians.
Their width clearly does not comply with British Safety Standards.
I am sure that many other people have witnessed actual accidents and near misses in this area.
Mums with buggies, people riding disability scooters, (bearing in mind that it is hoped that in the near future, Monmouth will have its own Shop Mobility scheme), wheelchair users as well as the infirm and the visually impaired and the blind must find the pavements on either side of the street not only a hazard, but also a nightmare to negotiate.
If the pinch point experiment had been allowed to go ahead, the problems of mobility within this area could have been temporarily alleviated.
Terry Christopher
(Monmouth)