A decision has been made to go ahead with the provision of a car park behind the Queen's Head, subject to planning permission.

Roger Hoggins, Head of Operations for Monmouthshire County Council (MCC), spoke to residents and businesses at a public meeting last Thursday (26th September) and confirmed that a provision of 57 spaces, with possible access off Granville Street and egress on to Wyebridge Street, has been suggested as a starting arrangement for the basis of a planning application to help ease congestion and free up car parking spaces at the higher end of town.

Although the details have yet to be decided by county planners, the space at the rear of the Queen's Head has been earmarked for this development.

While businesses argue that the availability of more car parking spaces will help to accommodate the shoppers and visitors to the upper end of Monmouth, some residents had reservations that the extra traffic will only add to the noise and pollution levels already existing.

Residents had not formed part of the earlier consultation process, and it was felt important to hear their views in light of the air quality issues in the area around the traffic lights on the A40 and the building of a car park in the vicinity which will only add to the problem.

A draft air quality action plan had already monitored Nitrogen Dioxide levels in the area and had shown levels in breach of required limits, although it was pointed out that Monmouthshire currently has no official air quality plans in operation.

Some residents felt that if the council were more flexible with applications for double glazing on the listed buildings, it would help to alleviate some of the noise levels.

Brain Ramsey, a resident of Granville Street who chaired the meeting, gave summary of some of the problems with the available car parks in town, and urged more co-operation between the county council, businesses and residents to help improve the current position at Cinderhill Street car park which is full by 8.30am with some of the spaces taken up by car share schemes and residents.

Options for improving the usage of the current seven car parks in town were discussed, but it was agreed that both residents and shoppers have a vested interest in the development of the problem.

Waitrose is currently finalising plans to charge for its parking; the issue is due in November's planning meeting and it was likely this was to be refused.

All agreed it was an emotive subject and residents' consultation would form part of the planning process.

Park and ride concepts were raised, but Roger Hoggins explained that the town was not big enough to create the demand required.

Ian Cooling, secretary of Monmouth and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said after the meeting: "The Chamber has lobbied on behalf of businesses for the past eight years for the creation of a new car park to alleviate the lack of parking during the day and sometimes in an evening at the top of town.

"We have suggested that, if the location selected is behind the Queen's Head, it should be for long term parking only either by ticket or yearly contract, in order to free up space in the short term parking Glendower Street car park for shoppers.

"It is likely that the parking situation on and off street will get  worse with the development of the Dixton Road Clinic site with only one parking space per one or two bed apartments and, with no lifts installed, retired people who are downsizing and have given up their cars will be unlikely to purchase apartments.

"The Redcliffe Homes website indicates that work will begin this autumn. Bounded by two rivers and a dual carriageway the options for creating a new car park with a meaningful number of spaces are extremely limited."