SIR,
The decision not to bring the market back to Agincourt Square is crazy and appears to be using rationale which is misleading and incorrect.
The suggestion that there is large support for this decision is ludicrous.
The facts regarding the matter are as follows.
The retail community want the market back in its rightful place in Agincourt Square.
Fifty-eight retailers signed a petition demanding this.
The majority of market stall holders want the market back in Agincourt Square.
The number of stall holders in the market has not increased, it is only that the car park offers greater space.
When the market was moved to the car park it was on the understanding that it would return to the square when the Shire Hall renovations were completed.
The submission to the Lottery Fund to refurbish the Shire Hall was on the basis of the market being in the square.
The Monmouth Chamber of Commerce members want the market to return to Agincourt Square.
The market at its present site takes up 34 valuable car parking spaces in a town which is already short of them.
It is my understanding that Kellie Beirne the chief officer for regeneration and culture is relatively new to the position.
As such she must have relied on local county officials for a lot of the information.
It is therefore important that a public meeting be held attended by Ms Beirne as well as Ms Debbie McCarty, the local county official with responsibility for markets, so that they can explain the rationale behind a decision which appears to be ill considered and highly unpopular.
Neill Bell
(Monmouth)