FRUSTRATIONS have been voiced by a Monnow Street business owner after another heavy goods vehicle was involved in a collision with her premises this week.

At approximately 11.20pm on Monday night, Gwent Police were called after a heavy goods vehicle turning out of St John’s Street on to Monnow Street scraped past Suit U, the shop on the corner of the junction where St John’s Street meets Monnow Street.

Sandrea Richards of Monmouth Suit U told the Beacon she has been battling with Monmouthshire County Council for years in trying to find a solution to the store being hit by heavy goods vehicles. She said "it’s also a worry when you’re working inside", adding that she was grateful that no-one was in the store at the time.

Gwent Police officers attended the scene, however by the time they arrived the lorry had left. The collision was caught on CCTV, but has not yet been reviewed.

Signage has been put up on streets leading into St John’s Street, however it still has not prevented the semi-regular collisions, with over half-a-dozen happening every year.

Damage was done not only to the window pane, which was cracked, but also to the wood panelling around the shop.

Sandrea Richards added that because these events happen frequently, they often cause disruption in the running of the business, saying that the county council "really needs to do more to ensure the safety of the shops on the junction."

It’s not just Suit U which is affected by these incidents, with HGVs also often colliding with other businesses on the junction including Twomlows solicitors on the other side of Monnow Street.

County Councillor Jane Pratt, cabinet member for infrastructure and neighbourhood services said: "Monmouthshire County Council has already provided signs that are displayed on Glendower Street to remind HGV drivers that St John’s Street is unsuitable for HGV vehicles. A prohibition of right turns out of St John’s Street is in place to restrict any motorists from turning right. Any vehicles that are continuing to turn right, regardless of their size, should be reported to the police, as they have enforcement powers to act on this and any other act of irresponsible or dangerous driving."

Several weeks ago, a similar incident saw a vehicle collide with a gas pipe on St John’s Street causing a dangerous and concerning gas leak which took a number of weeks to properly repair.