THE proposed budget increase for a link road connecting Caldicot town centre with the Asda supermarket was approved at Monmouthshire County Council's (MCC) cabinet meeting last Wednesday (4th February).

The council had allocated an initial budget of £25,000 for the linkage between Caldicot Asda and Newport Road, with another £175,000 set aside for the project's implementation, should it be needed.

Councillors decided at this point to release the extra funds in order to make the process as short as possible.

After public consultation about the build last November, adjustments have been made to plans for the link road, which was included as part of the original consent behind the building of the supermarket.

With the money organised, the plans can be confirmed with the landowner and the procuring process can begin as the project goes up for planning consideration.

Once planning has been approved in approximately six to eight week's time, work can begin.

Commenting on the link road, Councillor Bob Greenland said: "I cannot underestimate the importance, when you are trying to regenerate a town through the presence of a new store, of getting the pedestrian linkage from the store to the rest of the town centre right.

"All the evidence shows that if you get it right and you have an attractive walkway between that store and the town centre, people will use it.

"I regret in someways the delay that we have had, but on the other hand it has been useful because it's absolutely also essential that the public have been consulted and their views taken on board.

"Actually, from this consultation, changes have been made that will certainly make this linkage even better. I'm really pleased that we're now at the point at which we can move forward, get the works done, and then we can begin to see the improvements in footfall that will come to the store and the centre of town."